Southampton to target £20m Tottenham ace Kevin Wimmer if they lose Virgil van Dijk this summer
Saints line-up Spurs defender as the man they want to replace the Liverpool and Chelsea target
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SOUTHAMPTON have reportedly identified Tottenham’s Kevin Wimmer as the man to replace Virgil van Dijk.
The Saints are refusing to budge on their stance that the Dutch defender will depart the South Coast this summer.
But the 26-year-old is determined to leave, and the Daily Mail claim the Austrian will be the man to fill the void should he get his move.
Liverpool are determined to bring the ex-Celtic star to Anfield.
They had a bid rejected for Van Dijk in June and Southampton then reported the Reds to the Premier League for an alleged illegal approach.
The centre-half’s representatives remain hopeful that the £60million-rated ace will eventually be allowed to go.
The Kop boys, Chelsea and Manchester City are all monitoring his situation as they plot making a huge bid.
And Mauricio Pellegrino already has a contingency plan in mind.
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Spurs star Wimmer, 24, is top of the list of potential replacements.
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino wants to keep Wimmer in North London.
However, he is aware of his desire to play more regularly.
And an offer of around £20m could be enough to persuade him to cash in.
Wimmer joined Spurs from FC Cologne in 2015 but has only featured 15 times in the top-flight.
He has been capped twice by his country.
Virgil van Dijk - The Dutch defender being chased by the Premier League's big guns
- Van Dijk was born in Breda, Holland, on July 8 1991.
- He grew up pretending to be Ronaldinho when he played street football.
- He spent a year with Willem II as a youth before moving to Groningen.
- After graduating from their academy in 2011 Van Dijk played 66 times for the Eredivisie club over three seasons, scoring seven times.
- Celtic gave Van Dijk his break in British football by moving in 2013 and the Dutchman quickly established himself in their first team.
- The 6ft 4ins defender's form saw Southampton make a move in 2015 and after 68 appearances in two seasons Champions League clubs are circling.
- Van Dijk's international career began in 2015 and he has since played 12 times for his country.
- Pundit Tony Cascarino described van Dijk as "even better and quicker than Rio Ferdinand".
