Liverpool tried and failed to sign Van Dijk last summer, being forced to apologise to Southampton for an illegal approach.

But the Reds are still keen to land the Holland international in the January transfer window.

And The Sunday World say Liverpool have made a breakthrough with their pursuit of Van Dijk and have finally been given the green light to negotiate a deal for the player.

The deal would make the 26-year-old Liverpool's record signing, smashing the £36m paid for Mohamed Salah last summer and the £48m set to go on Naby Keita this summer.

Van Dijk was left out of the Southampton squad for their 1-1 draw with Huddersfield today, the second straight game he has missed.

Last week Van Dijk was forced to settle for a place on the bench for the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, with Saints manager Mauricio Pellegrino admitting future was uncertain.

"Virgil, we know there will be a lot of speculation about him he's important player but I can't say anything right now," Pellegrino said.

"I decided that was best for this moment. This is the reason. I am responsible for picking 11 players, and I intend to pick the best for the team.

"Van Dijk's future? We have to wait."

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp name-checked Van Dijk after the 3-3 draw with Arsenal on Friday night.

He said: “You only have to look at your own life – if you make one mistake you learn from it.

“A lot of my players are young and young enough to learn and that is what they will do, 100 per cent. 

"I’m told, ‘You need to sign Van Dijk in January, don’t you?’

"But it’s difficult to scout players who have never made an individual mistake in their life. Nothing to say about the transfer window, actually.”