Done deal has signed Manchester United target….

Liverpool legend John Barnes believes that Virgil van Dijk is trying to convince Jurrien Timber to join the club.

The Dutch defender currently plays at Ajax and has been linked with a move to the Reds, as well as rivals Manchester United.

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Timber has been linked with a switch to Anfield

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Barnes has hinted at involvement from Van Dijk to help with a deal

Van Dijk has already played a role in helping attract players to Anfield over Old Trafford, with Cody Gakpo revealing the centre-back’s influence in his January move.

He could be set to do the same once again this summer, this time with fellow countryman Timber.

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When speaking to Soccer News, former Liverpool winger Barnes said: “Of course, I know that he played together with Van Dijk in the Dutch national team and according to the latest rumours Van Dijk has told him that he has to go to Anfield.

“He is a good player and would therefore be a good asset to Liverpool. Virgil is already over thirty and he will not stay with the club forever.

“So in the long term, it’s not just about ‘coming to The Reds to form a duo with Van Dijk.’

“Liverpool also just needs to look for a new defender for the future. And in that respect, Timber would of course be a fantastic option if we manage to capture him.”

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Van Dijk appears to be crucial off the pitch as well as on it

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He helped bring Gakpo to the club earlier in the year

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Timber has previously spoken on his future and hinted at a departure from Ajax in the summer.

“A transfer is getting closer and closer, so to speak,” the centre-back said in April. “There is a lot of concrete interest and I have made agreements with Ajax.

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“Last year Ajax asked me to stay for at least one more season and to extend my contract. As a club boy I did that with love and after the season we will review the situation.”

Timber, who is 21, has made 118 senior appearances for Ajax, scoring five goals as a defender.

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Klopp could look to bring Timber in this summer

Should he move to Liverpool, he could partner-up with Van Dijk at the heart of the Liverpool backline.

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The Reds’ are likely to finish outside of the Premier League top four this season, with their current 5th place standing set to take them to the Europa League.

However, boss Jurgen Klopp does not believe that the potential absence of Champions League football will affect their transfer plans.

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‘That’s why’- Bruno Fernandes sends top-four warning to Liverpool after Manchester United win

Bruno Fernandes has acknowledged the importance of Manchester United’s 2-0 win over Wolves as Liverpool attempt to hunt down their Premier League rivals.

Erik ten Hag’s side secured a vital victory on Saturday afternoon thanks to goals from Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho, moving four points clear of the Reds in the process.

Liverpool will look to keep pace with United by beating Leicester City on Monday evening, though will be fully aware the race to claim a top-four finish has now been taken out of their hands after this result at Old Trafford.

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Recognising the value of his team’s triumph, Fernandes told MUTV: “It was a must-win because we know that we need points to get the position we want to get the top four. We did our job properly and that’s why we got the three points. They [Wolves] are a really smart team, they defend really well. They are compact, it’s difficult to go through their lines. They have quality on the ball.

“They have players with pace up front and they are really good technically, so we had to be aware of the counters, we had to be aware when they had the ball, we had to have the right press on them. So, I think we did really well, [it was] a professional performance and that’s why we get the points.”

Next on the agenda for the Red Devils is a trip to the South Coast to take on Bournemouth, providing Liverpool hope of a possible slip-up. United have lost three of their previous five Premier League away fixtures and Fulham remain the only side in the top half they have beaten on their travels.

Playing down this record, however, Fernandes is adamant he and his team-mates will come out on top next weekend. “I’m confident also to go away from home because we know how good we are,” stressed the Portuguese midfielder. “We have to go to Bournemouth and think that we will go there to win the game because we have quality to do that. The away fans are amazing too, they have been there in every game and we have to get a good result for them because we travel a lot all around England.”

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