Virgil van Dijk: Jurgen Klopp speaks for first time since Liverpool make record signing
JURGEN KLOPP has opened up on what he thinks of the £75million fee Liverpool have paid for Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is now the world's most expensive defender after Liverpool agreed to pay £75m to Southampton for his services.
He will not officially join Liverpool until January 2 so will unavailable for the New Years' Day match against Burnley, but could make his debut in the Merseyside derby against Everton in the FA Cup third round next week.
Much was made of Liverpool's approach for Van Dijk in the summer with Southampton lodging a formal complaint to the Premier League over an illegal approach.
And despite the Holland international putting in a transfer request, the south coast club refused to sell.
But Liverpool have now finally got their man with many pundits and supporters surprised at the price-tag.
The first thing all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon. It's the price
However, Klopp has urged fans to not concentrate on the fee and instead focus on what he will be able to bring to Liverpool.
When asked what he thought Van Dijk would bring to his Liverpool squad, Klopp told Sky Sports: "Quality. That's why we got him, that's why we were interested in him.
"It's quite difficult because technically he's still a player of Southampton.
"I can imagine people think 'wow, what a number it is' but of course for me it's not really interesting.
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"We don't make the prices. The market makes the prices.
"The first thing all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon. It's the price. We only talk about the player and what he can bring in.
"His qualities, his mentality, his character, all that stuff so that's why we are are really happy about it."
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Van Dijk has only featured in 12 games for Southampton this season having recovered from a long injury lay off and Klopp has hinted that it may take time for the Holland international to get used to Liverpool's style of play.
"Virgil hasn't had the best first half to the season at Southampton," said Klopp.
"He was out injured for a long time and we all know about the things that happened last summer.
"He's a tall player - they always need a little bit longer especially after being out for around nine months - but that's no problem. We already have quality here in that position so we don't have to rush anything.
"He needs to adapt to our style of play. It's a completely different game, but we are 100 per cent sure he will do it."
