Virgil van Dijk has got to show a better attitude at Liverpool than he did at Southampton last summer, according to former Reds player Dean Saunders.
The centre-back sealed a £75million move to Anfield earlier this week, making him the world’s most expensive defender.
The move and van Dijk’s price tag has divided many since it was announced on Wednesday that the Dutchman would start his Liverpool career on January 1st.
This saga has finally been brought to an end which saw Southampton and Liverpool engaged in a tug of war last summer for van Dijk who handed in a transfer request in August to try and force through a move.
And Saunders, who spoke to talkSPORT’s Jim White on the Jim White show suggested van Dijk has the potential to be difficult for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp to handle.
“I have seen van Dijk with the chips down and I’ve got to be honest, I hope I’m wrong, but his attitude has got to be better than he has shown,” Saunders said.
“If I’m Liverpool manager I might think he’ll do that to me.”
Former Saints boss Claude Puel claimed van Dijk could become the best defender in the world at Liverpool but others remain unconvinced.
And Saunders went on to say that Klopp might try and strike a deal with his latest signing in order to prevent any potential conflict between the player and manager.
He added: “If I was Klopp, I would say to van Dijk: ‘I’m going to pay £75million for you, I’m going to give you £200,000 a week, all I want from you is an hour and a half’s training from you every day flat out and try your best on a Saturday, is that a deal?’
“If you come in one day and you’re not having a go in training you are breaking the contract. If he [van Dijk] doesn’t do that, he will get found out.”
Philippe Coutinho has been warned about making the switch to Barcelona.
Fellow countryman and footballing legend Ronaldo has offered the Liverpool man some advice about moving to Spain.
The former striker has told Coutinho to be wary of the move, insisting the La Liga leaders have ‘always had issues’ with Brazilians.
Speaking to Esporte Interativo, Ronaldo said: "I felt much more happy and more connected to Real Madrid, despite having lived a great year in Barcelona.
"In the end, my history with Barça was very bad, similar to the one Neymar had.
"Barcelona has always had issues with Brazilian players: Neymar, Romario, Ronaldinho and me.
“We were all treated badly by the club in the end, despite all our contributions and dedication.”
Stoke are ready to challenge Southampton in pursuit of a January move for Daniel Sturridge.
Mark Hughes wants to add a striker to his squad when the winter window opens and has ambitious plans to recruit the England international on loan.
Hughes also holds a strong interest in Sturridge’s Liverpool team-mate Danny Ings and hopes Stoke will be able to use geography as leverage against rival clubs to secure one or the other. Newcastle, West Ham and West Bromwich Albion, are all tracking Ings.
Liverpool are adamant Sturridge will no be allowed to leave on a temporary basis next month as Jurgen Klopp battles on domestic and European fronts.
But Stoke are set to test that resolve with Sturridge, 28, needing regular matches in his ambition to win a World Cup place.
Sturridge, who has 18 months left on his Anfield contract, has scored three goals this season in five starts and nine appearances off the bench in all competitions.
He featured for England against Lithuania in October. Hughes, who also wants a midfielder and full-back, would not be drawn on Sturridge or Ings specifically but did say: 'I think there’s conversations about a lot of players.
'Some will be in regard to taking players on a permanent and there’s always loan deals that can be done.
He continued: 'We are well aware of who’s available and who might become available, but nothing is definite as yet.
‘It’s clear we need a little bit more help for the squad and a couple of extra bodies would help.’
Hughes added that Stoke’s central location in the country, and close proximity to the suburbs surrounding Merseyside and Manchester, would be useful when recruiting players from those areas.
‘You’ve got to use every means at your disposal and that plays a part in recruitment,’ he said.
'We’ve got a good location here so why wouldn’t you want to come here?
He added: 'It is about the football too, because we feel we’re a top-10 Premier League club and that resonates with players.
‘Players look at us in a different light these days and would like to come here if they feel they’re not getting the games their talent deserves.’
Hughes may be forced to field two teenage full-backs at Chelsea as an injury crisis cripples his defensive options.
Tom Edwards and Josh Tymon, both 18, are in contention to start at Stamford Bridge with Ryan Shawcross and Bruno Martins Indi out injured, Erik Pieters a major doubt, and Kurt Zouma ineligible due to his loan agreement.
Shawcross is out for at least a fortnight after limping out of the Boxing Day draw at Huddersfield with a calf injury.
Frustrated Daniel Sturridge IS interested in a move to Southampton - but fears a move would be blocked by Liverpool.
Stoke also want the 28-year-old marksman who is determined to quit Anfield next month in search of regular first-team football.
But Liverpool are set to rebuff loan bids. The club will only be tempted to allow Sturridge to leave if an offer of £25million is made.
Sources close to the England striker have indicated he has become disillusioned by Liverpool’s stance - particularly given his team ethic despite his lack of action.
Sturridge has knuckled down without complaining publicly about his ongoing bit part role with Roberto Firmino the man striker.
Whether on a loan or on a permanent basis, Sturridge now wants to play for a club that values him enough to give him regular first-team football.
Spanish clubs Valencia and Sevilla have had an interest for some time while Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez also has Sturridge on his shortlist for a new striker.
Southampton are ready to sell their Italian striker Manolo Gabbiadini, eleven months after signing him for £14.6million.
Gabbiadini exploded into life on the south coast with six goals in his first four games but has not been the same player since a groin injury in March put him out for a month.
With Charlie Austin set to miss two months with a hamstring injury, Southampton are in dire need of reinforcements up front.
The problem for Sturridge is that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is more intent on allowing Danny Ings leave on loan to regain full fitness with Stoke interested.
Sturridge would then be kept as cover unless Liverpool were to receive an offer they could not refuse.
The marksman’s future did not form part of the discussions over Virgil van Dijk’s record £75million transfer. But it means Southampton do now have the cash to meet Liverpool’s valuation of Sturridge.
Mirror Sport revealed before Christmas that the striker fears his World Cup hopes will be all but over if he is still at Anfield in February.
Gareth Southgate has made it clear that only players that are playing regularly stand a chance of making it to Russia next summer.
Virgil van Dijk could be in for a shock at Liverpool, says Matt Upson
Van Dijk will become the world’s most expensive defender when he completes his switch from St Mary’s to Anfield on New Year’s Day.
Ex-Arsenal, Birmingham, West Ham and England man Upson has no doubts about Van Dijk’s ability, but thinks he’ll have some serious adapting to do under Jurgen Klopp.
“I think he’s a big part of the jigsaw,” Upson said.
“What do you get? You get a very imposing figure, physically he’s very dominant, he wins most of his aerial battles.