Liverpool's Record Signing of Van Dijk Followed Manchester United's Fateful Decision
For supporters of Liverpool Football Club, few moments carry greater satisfaction than gaining a significant advantage over their historic rivals, Manchester United. Over the past decade, the balance of power in English football's most intense rivalry has shifted decisively towards Anfield, with the transformative influence of defender Virgil van Dijk playing a pivotal role in that change.
The Record-Breaking January Transfer That Changed Everything
Liverpool secured the services of the Dutch centre-back during the January transfer window of 2018, paying a club-record fee of £75 million to Southampton. At the time, this sum represented a world-record amount for a defender, demonstrating the immense value Liverpool placed on Van Dijk's abilities. His arrival immediately revolutionised the team's defensive structure, bringing organisation, leadership, and world-class quality to the back line.
What makes this transfer particularly remarkable is how close Van Dijk came to joining Manchester United just months earlier. According to revelations from his former Southampton teammate Charlie Austin, the defender was in serious discussions with United during the summer of 2017. The Red Devils, however, ultimately chose to pursue Swedish defender Victor Lindelof instead, a decision that would have profound consequences for both clubs.
The Conversation That Revealed United's Missed Opportunity
Austin recalled a telling conversation with Van Dijk during their time together at Southampton, sharing the details with talkSPORT in 2022. "I remember at the back end of his Southampton career, we were sitting on the bench together at Chelsea away," Austin explained. "I said to him, 'Come on Virgil, what's going on, surely Manchester United must have been in for you? They're a massive club in England.'"
"He said, 'Do you know what Chaz, in the summer it was between me and Lindelof - and they went for Lindelof.' Nobody knows that. He told me on the bench and I couldn't believe it. I was gobsmacked."
This fateful choice has haunted Manchester United in ways the club could scarcely have imagined. While Van Dijk has flourished spectacularly on Merseyside, establishing himself as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, Lindelof never quite fulfilled his potential during eight seasons at Old Trafford. The Swedish international provided consistency but lacked the commanding presence and defensive solidity that Van Dijk brought to Liverpool.
The Contrasting Trajectories of Two Defensive Signings
Following their regret over not securing Van Dijk, Manchester United proceeded to break the transfer record for a defender again in 2019, signing Harry Maguire from Leicester City for £80 million. Yet Maguire also struggled to match the consistency and impact of the Liverpool captain, with his performances oscillating between reliable and error-prone during his early years at the club.
While the England international has since regained some form and partially restored his reputation, he has never been held in the same esteem as his Liverpool counterpart. Van Dijk, in contrast, has cemented his status as one of Liverpool's finest ever players, contributing significantly to the club's most successful period in recent history.
Van Dijk's Monumental Impact at Anfield
The Dutch defender proved instrumental in Liverpool's triumphant 2018/19 Champions League campaign and their long-awaited Premier League title victory in the 2019/20 season. His individual accolades include becoming just the third defender in history to be crowned PFA Player of the Year in 2019, as well as finishing second in the Ballon d'Or voting that same year.
With well over 300 appearances for the club, Van Dijk's influence has been both profound and enduring. Following Jordan Henderson's departure in 2023, he assumed the role of club captain, leading Liverpool to a second Premier League title last season. His leadership, defensive mastery, and consistent excellence have made him not just a transformative signing, but a genuine club legend whose acquisition represents one of the most significant moments in Liverpool's modern history.
The story of how Liverpool secured Van Dijk's services after Manchester United's decision to pursue an alternative option stands as a defining chapter in the ongoing rivalry between these two footballing giants. It demonstrates how transfer decisions can shape the fortunes of clubs for years to come, with Liverpool's record-breaking January signing continuing to pay dividends long after that fateful window closed.
