Liverpool are not planning on signing a replacement if they fail to land Virgil van Dijk this summer.

The Reds have been chasing the Southampton defender all summer, but have so far been thwarted in their attempts to capture the Dutchman, reports the Liverpool Echo.

However, Jurgen Klopp is ready to pounce if the Saints' signing of £17million Lazio centre-back Wesley Hoedt moves the goalposts.

Lazio sporting director Ighli Tare claims that Hoedt has been guaranteed regular first-team football by Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

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Van Dijk has so far failed to push through a move (
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AFP)
Wesley Hoedt has moved to Saints (
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Getty)

Saints chairman Ralph Krueger was adamant last week that Van Dijk wouldn’t be sold, but Southampton’s new Chinese owners haven’t provided Pellegrino with any additional funds for transfers.

Uncertainty about his future remains as Van Dijk still hasn’t returned to Saints’ first-team fold - a month after being banished to train on his own after informing Pellegrino that he wanted to leave.

Liverpool know they have to tread carefully having publicly withdrawn their interest and issued an apology to Saints in June after being accused of tapping up Van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request a fortnight ago.

Southampton’s position over Van Dijk to date has mirrored Liverpool’s approach to keeping Philippe Coutinho away from the clutches of Barcelona. They have been unwilling to put a price on him or listen to offers.

However, if Saints do reluctantly grant the 26-year-old his wish to move on then Liverpool will be at the front of the queue and are prepared to shatter their transfer record.

If the Reds don’t land Van Dijk then Klopp will press ahead with Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Ragnar Klavan and Joe Gomez as his four centre-back options for this season.

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