Chelsea have moved into pole position in the race to sign Southampton centre-back Virgil Van Dijk, according to the Telegraph.
Van Dijk has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League this season. His combative style, aerial dominance and classy distribution from the back have seen him emerge as one of the most accomplished centre-backs in England.
His good performances do not appear to have gone unnoticed. The Telegraph believe that champions-elect Chelsea are interested in securing Van Dijk’s signature in the summer transfer window. They report that the Saints have braced themselves for bids in the region of £50million amid interest from the Premier League leaders.
According to the Telegraph, Nathan Ake, who they note is rated at £15million, could head the other direction as a makeweight in the deal. Ake could well join the long list of former Blues who benefited from a move away from Stamford Bridge.