According to Bleacher Report's Football Insider Dean Jones, on his official Twitter account, Chelsea have been waiting to see if Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk became available, and they have been given hope with the news that the Dutchman wants to leave.

BBC Football say Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino has made the 26-year-old train on his own because he has told him that he doesn’t want to stay, and the Blues may hold the advantage over Liverpool in the race to sign the Netherlands international after the Reds were forced to issue an apology last month after being accused of tapping him up.

Antonio Conte has bought Antonio Rudiger this summer, seen Andreas Christensen return from a loan spell with Borussia Monchengladbach, sold Nathan Ake and loaned out Kurt Zouma, and it remains to be seen whether the Italian will actually target another centre-back.

Chelsea supporters were quick to have their say on the rumour via social media, but the majority weren’t keen on the deal as they don’t feel they need another centre-half, while others don’t want to pay the world-record fee he would likely command.

Here is just a selection of the Twitter reaction…

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