Manchester City are threatening to derail Liverpool’s pursuit of Virgil van Dijk.
The Southampton defender has attracted interest from the Reds, local rivals Everton and Chelsea despite being sidelined with an ankle injury since January.
But Pep Guardiola is plotting to snare his Premier League rivals with a deal which would meet the South Coast club’s £50 million valuation of the player.
According to the Times, the City manager will offer Van Dijk a five-year contract of £180,000 per week which would make the overall transfer worth £100m.
Chelsea were understood to be in pole position for the Holland international but the new Premier League champions are also set to be frustrated.
Guardiola has already secured Monaco’s Bernardo Silva as City’s first summer signing for £43.6m and is on the verge of signing Benfica goalkeeper Ederson.