Van Dijk: World-record fee wasn´t a big issue for me

Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk insisted his £75million price tag was never an issue after the world-record fee for a defender was broken earlier this month.

Van Dijk made the move from Southampton to Liverpool in January 2018, the huge transfer fee initially raising eyebrows.

But the Netherlands international helped the Premier League giants win the Champions League last season and has emerged as a Ballon d’Or contender.

However, the world-record fee was broken after Manchester United paid Leicester City £80m for England centre-back Harry Maguire earlier this month.

Van Dijk, whose side face Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul on Wednesday, played down the significance of the fees.

“It wasn’t a big issue for me. It’s something you don’t have an influence on,” he told a news conference.

Looking forward to tomorrow! #SuperCup pic.twitter.com/QZPbuoE7Kt

— Virgil van Dijk (@VirgilvDijk) August 13, 2019

“It happens, it’s the market and the only thing you can do is put your head down and start playing, give everything for the team.

“That’s what I did and it worked so far, I’ll just try to keep doing that, keep progressing and be a better player.”

European champions Liverpool will go into their clash against Chelsea as favourites, having opened their Premier League season with a 4-1 win over Norwich City as Frank Lampard’s men were humbled 4-0 by United.

Van Dijk is eager for Jurgen Klopp’s side to win the trophy for Liverpool for the first time since 2005.

“I think it could work in both favours, they know us, we know them, but the most important thing is it’s one game, one final, anything could happen,” he said.

“We know at the start of the season everyone’s coming back from having a break. We are ready, we want to win that trophy and we’re going to do everything that’s possible to hold the trophy.”