---
title: "Chelsea need to pay record fee to land van Dijk"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2017/08/15/chelsea-need-pay-record-fee-land-van-dijk/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Michael Oliver"
section: "Chelsea News"
published: "2017-08-15T10:08:16Z"
modified: "2017-08-15T10:08:16Z"
---

# Chelsea need to pay record fee to land van Dijk

After last week’s shambles on the opening day, it’s evident that Chelsea’s defence still needs significant work.

While a wing-back or two would be ideal for Antonio Conte, the addition of a towering centre-back wouldn’t go amiss either, and the Blues are back in the race to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.

Liverpool have been leading the race to sign the Dutchman this summer, who has handed in a transfer request at St. Mary’s, but they will not be bullied into offloading him.

[Yahoo!](https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/southampton-tell-chelsea-van-dijk-will-cost-world-record-fee-143720023.html) understand that the centre-back is more likely to complete a summer transfer to either Chelsea or Manchester City before the window closes.

![Stephen Pond/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/631140624.jpg)

Southampton are determined to keep their star defender who signed a new long-term deal last summer, but could be tempted into a sale if an offer in excess of £70m comes in for him, which would make van Dijk the most expensive defender in football history.

Chelsea have shelled out £34m to bring in Antonio Rudiger from Roma to aid their defence, but the spending won’t stop there and one, maybe two more defensive recruits are being targeted.