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Rodgers says Liverpool blocked Van Dijk pursuit, alleges 'issue' with scouts

Reuters

Liverpool could have had Brendan Rodgers to thank for Virgil Van Dijk's arrival at Anfield.

Instead, the Merseyside outfit blocked a move for the Dutch international, according to the Celtic manager.

"When I was at Liverpool I asked about Van Dijk and he was at Groningen and then at Celtic," Rodgers told the Evening Times. "But I was told he wouldn't be for us at the time.

Van Dijk spent two years in Glasgow before he was eventually shipped out in 2015 when Celtic accepted Southampton's £13-million bid.

(Courtesy: Action Images)

Rodgers claims he identified Van Dijk as a potential transfer target during the 23-year-old's time with Celtic in 2013, but suggested the club was not willing to sign a player that it considered to have insufficient experience in a league outside of Europe's elite.

"Virgil van Dijk could have jumped from Celtic to a Liverpool," he said. "Some clubs will want to see the players tested at certain arenas first."

Rodgers added: "You could see with Van Dijk that he was quick, strong, good on the ball, and decent in the air.

"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."

The Welsh manager also said "there is maybe an issue with scouts" at Liverpool, but did not elaborate further than the club's refusal to support his pursuit of Van Dijk.

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