Antonio Conte desperate for Chelsea to sign top 26-year-old defender ahead of Man City – report
Antonio Conte is eager to see Chelsea complete a deal to sign Virgil van Dijk ahead of Man City, according to reports
Antonio Conte is hoping Chelsea can complete a deal to sign Virgil van Dijk ahead of Manchester City, according to reports.
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that the defending Premier League champions are interested in signing the Netherlands international in the January transfer window to improve their defensive options.
The same article states that Conte is worried that Manchester City will be impossible to stop if the Premier League leaders manage to complete a deal to sign the Netherlands international.
According to the same story, Manchester City want to sign Van Dijk to replace injury-prone captain Vincent Kompany as the Citizens close in on a first Premier League title under Pep Guardiola.
Van Dijk was linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer transfer window, although Liverpool FC were thought to be Van Dijk’s preferred destination.
The Netherlands international has suffered a loss of form at Southampton this season amid continued speculation surrounding his future at St Mary’s.
Van Dijk even handed in a transfer request in the summer but the Saints refused to alter their stance on the 26-year-old centre-half.
Chelsea are in third place in the Premier League table and a point adrift of Manchester United in second spot.
