Alan Brazil: Bringing Virgil Van Dijk to Liverpool could prove a Klopp masterstroke

JURGEN KLOPP could have secured his long-term future at Liverpool by signing their new Alan Hansen.

Forget the ludicrous fee of £75m. I think Klopp has done a great bit of business by signing Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.

Adding someone of his ability to the Liverpool team could turn them from entertainers into winners.

Liverpool are so good going forward that the supporters have been able to forgive Klopp for not totally sorting out the defensive side of the team.

There was a spell when some fans were whinging about it.

They were coming on my radio show and saying it was ridiculous that he seemed unable to make improvements at the back.

Klopp has been patient in waiting for Van Dijk, and I think he’ll make a big difference to Liverpool in the seasons ahead.

It might not happen straight away – Virgil hasn’t got a magic wand.

But the big Dutchman is a leader and he’ll relish the responsibility that comes with being a major figure at Anfield.

There’s no doubt he hasn’t been at his best for Southampton in recent months.

He was deeply disappointed that he didn’t get the move to Liverpool in the summer. That had an adverse effect on his play.

I’m afraid it’s a fact of life now that unhappy players rarely perform at their best.

He was still being paid a huge amount of money and should have been giving his all for the Southampton shirt.

But when a player knows his future lies elsewhere, it seems to take the edge off their game.

And if someone is performing at just 5% below their maximum, then it will quickly be exposed in the Premier League.

That period of uncertainty and unhappiness should be behind him now.

Klopp won’t stand for being messed about. If the former Celtic defender starts any antics, he’ll be left on the sidelines in the same way that David Luiz was left out at Chelsea.

I think the last few months have been a blip in his career and we’ll now see the real Van Dijk again.

It’s probably a good time for him to make the switch to Merseyside.

Mo Salah has been an absolutely sensational signing and that’s helped to create a real feelgood factor at Liverpool.

It should also mean the fans will be a little more patient with Van Dijk.

However, supporters being supporters, that will only last for so long.

If Liverpool keep giving away daft goals then questions will be asked about Klopp’s ability to organise a defence.

I don’t see that happening.

I’m predicting that Liverpool will be a better side with Van Dijk in it and Klopp will be safe. The supporters will want their team to be challenging for the title, but that’s not going to happen straight away.

There’s a realisation of just how good Pep Guardiola is. He improves players more than any other manager around at the moment.

His Manchester City team are streaking away with the Premier League.

They’re incredibly stubborn when they lose the ball and fight to get it back as quickly as possible.

I think the Liverpool fans know they can’t compete financially with City and, at the moment, Guardiola definitely has the better squad.

But the arrival of Van Dijk could be a major moment in Liverpool’s history, and a sign they could soon be competing for major honours again.