According to reports in the Liverpool Echo, Everton manager Ronald Koeman wants to sign the £55m-rated Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk this summer.

The Toffees boss is keen to bring in a new, younger centre-back with Phil Jagielka and Ashley Williams getting no younger, and Ramiro Funes Mori picking up a knee injury while away on international duty with Argentina last month.

The Dutchman brought his compatriot Van Dijk to St Mary’s from Celtic in 2015 when he was the south coast outfit’s boss, and the 25-year-old has gone on to establish himself as one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League.

Although he has been missing since January because of a foot injury, Saints will be bracing themselves for interest in their star man this summer, although they are ready to demand what would be a world-record fee for a defender.

Here are three reasons Everton shouldn’t waste their time pursuing Van Dijk…

Ambition

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Along with Everton, Van Dijk has also been linked with moves to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, and while the Toffees have the financial backing of Farhad Moshiri, they would still struggle to compete with those teams from an ambition point of view.

If truth be told, the 25-year-old may not even consider a move to Goodison Park as being the step up from Southampton he deserves.

While he knows Koeman well, playing for the potential Premier League champions or under Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium would surely be far more appealing, and he would take some convincing to make the switch to Goodison Park.

Former Saints

Having seen former Saints stars depart for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham in recent summers, Van Dijk will know that he has the opportunity to perhaps make a move to a bigger club than Everton this summer if he chooses to leave Southampton.

The Dutchman is considered to be one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and he will know that he will be able to use that to his advantage to secure a transfer to one of the best sides in the Premier League, or even across Europe.

Stepping stone

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Everton owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright in the stands before the match
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If Everton want to gradually start becoming a regular competitor for the Champions League spots in the Premier League over the next few seasons, then they need players that want to buy into Farhad Moshiri’s project for the long-term.

Signing Van Dijk could destabilise that plan as he has the quality to play for any of the top Premier League and European sides, and the chance to win trophies and play regular European football in the future could be too good for the Dutchman to turn down.

Do you agree, Toffees fans? Let us know below.