Wednesday's Liverpool transfer talk news roundup: Virgil van Dijk, Philippe Coutinho, Jadon Sancho

The January transfer window is now open, with Liverpool continuing to be linked with a host of big names.

Jurgen Klopp has been forced to contend with a crippling injury crisis during the first half of the season, leading to speculation that the Premier League champions could move for a new defender this month.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up the latest news on possible comings and goings from Anfield.

Wednesday morning's Liverpool transfer talk news roundup:

Manchester United 'signed Victor Lindelof over Virgil van Dijk'

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Manchester United signed Victor Lindelof over Virgil van Dijk, according to the Liverpool defender's former teammate Charlie Austin.

The Red Devils snapped up Swedish centre-back Lindelof from Benfica in June 2017 for a fee rising to £31m.

Van Dijk moved to Liverpool six months later and has played an integral part in the Reds' Premier League and Champions League success over the past two seasons.

However, Austin, who played alongside Van Dijk at Southampton, claims that things could have turned out a lot different.

"I remember at the back end of his Southampton career we were on the bench together at Chelsea, and I said to him 'come on Virg, what's going on? Surely Man United must have been in for you'," he told talkSPORT.

"He said to me, 'in the summer, it was between me or Lindelof'. I couldn't believe it, I was gobsmacked. There was talk in the summer that he was going to go there and they got Lindelof instead.

"I remember Mauricio [Pellegrino] getting everybody round in pre-season, everyone on the pitch including Virg, and just said 'look lads, Virgil wants to go, the club are not allowing him to go, so he says he's not going to play so he's not going to train with us', in front of everyone.

"[Van Dijk] was gobsmacked, there was no heads up from the manager or anything. It was more down the line of stamping his authority. Two days the later transfer window shut and Virg was starting again on the Saturday.

"He apologised to the lads, but we just said 'Virg, we understand, you were linked with Liverpool and you wanted to go, it's fine by us', we were just happy that he was here because of the quality that he brought."

Lindelof has gone on to make 138 appearances for United in all competitions, 22 of those this season.

Barcelona 'still owe Liverpool £25m for Philippe Coutinho'

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Liverpool are still owed £25m by Barcelona for playmaker Philippe Coutinho, according to a report.

The Reds reluctantly sold the Brazil international to Barca for a fee rising to £142m in January 2018, making him the third most expensive player of all time.

Only around £105m of that was handed over upfront, though, with the rest to be paid in instalments, as agreed by Liverpool at the time.

Spanish outlet El Confidencial claims that Liverpool have been paid a further £12m in the three years since that high-profile transfer, leaving a large amount outstanding.

The same report suggests that the Premier League champions are not alone in being owed money by Barca.

Bordeaux are said to be awaiting an £8.8m payment for winger Malcom, while Gremio and Ajax are due £7m and £14m respectively for Arthur and Frenkie de Jong.

More transfer news from Liverpool:

Borussia Dortmund 'could be forced to lower Jadon Sancho demands'
Borussia Dortmund are reportedly willing to accept a lower sum of money for Manchester United target Jadon Sancho in a bid to balance the books this summer. Read more.

Thomas Tuchel appointment 'boosts Chelsea's Dayot Upamecano pursuit'
The impending arrival of Thomas Tuchel in the Chelsea dugout could supposedly help the Blues in their pursuit of RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano. Read more.