Liverpool in ‘pole position’ for £40m transfer as Saudi meeting set with first signing ‘close’

Clubs across the Saudi Pro League are said to hold great interest in Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk amid fears he could leave Anfield this summer.

The Dutch international's contract is set to expire next summer, with reports suggesting that discussions over any kind of extension are currently at a standstill while the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to meet with the star's agents to discuss a deal in the coming weeks.

Among the PIF-controlled clubs in the league are 'the Big Four', those being Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Neymar's Al-Hilal, with all four clubs boasting big wages for star players that have gone to the league in recent windows, with Van Dijk the next possible major scalp with the entire league keen on him, according to CaughtOffside.

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Elsewhere, Liverpool are said to be "in pole position" to sign Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri this summer, according to journalist Abdel Hamad.

The Moroccan's attacking threat last season posed a serious danger to teams in the Premier League, with the star also displaying solid defensive skills in what would be a good addition to new head coach Arne Slot's squad for next season if they pulled the trigger on the move.

Wolves have been touted in the past to value the star at £40m, and are said to be willing to accept bids in that range, meaning that Slot could find a new asset that has just two years left on his current deal in the Midlands.

Finally, Liverpool are also set to welcome Chelsea youth academy talent Ryan McAidoo this summer ahead of Slot's first season in charge.

It's believed that the Blues were trying hard in order to keep the talent but the England youth international has reportedly made his mind up about a switch to Anfield, also declining a move to Chelsea's north London rivals Arsenal in the process.