Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Liverpool’s scouting department put paid to a move for Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk continues to attract interest from the Reds as well as other Premier League clubs despite being sidelined for three months by an ankle injury.
But the Southampton defender could have been bound for Anfield far sooner, during Rodgers’ three-year spell as Liverpool manager.
However the current Celtic boss alleges that the club’s scouting department shelved a proposed switch due to doubts over his ability to perform at his current level.
“Virgil van Dijk could have jumped from Celtic to a Liverpool. Some clubs will want to see the players tested at certain arenas first,” he told the Evening Times.
“But if there is enough belief in the player then that counts. The key for scouting is trying to predict when the player is peaking.
“You could see with van Dijk that he was quick, strong, good on the ball and decent in the air.”
He added: “So what more do you need to see?
“You could see him playing international football and, okay, clubs may want to see him in Champions League.
“[Victor] Wanyama left and then made the jump but he was a good player at Celtic, showing up well in the Champions League.
“There is maybe an issue with scouts. When I was at Liverpool I asked about van Dijk and he was at Groningen and then at Celtic.
“But I was told he wouldn’t be for us at the time.”