Betting suspended on Van Dijk's future

BOOKMAKERS have suspended betting on Virgil van Dijk’s future after substantial interest in the Southampton ace signing for Liverpool in this transfer window.

Hills and Ladbrokes both pulled the plug on the transfer market as Liverpool reportedly zoomed ahead of Manchester City in the race for the Dutch defender.

“We won’t be taking any more bets on the market” said Alex Apati of Ladbrokes after Van Dijk was backed from 4-7 to 1-8 to head to Anfield and Hills’ Joe Crilly added: “He was 5-4 to join Liverpool but it has been one-way traffic for him and this deal looks as good as done after being backed into 1-4.”

Jurgen Klopp is also looking to bring Roma winger Mohamed Salah to Merseyside as the German aims to improve on their fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

The Reds are fifth in the betting for next season’s title at 12-1 in a market headed by 2-1 shots City from 7-2 pokes Manchester United and Chelsea.

The champions received a blow with the news Eden Hazard is likely to miss the start of the season after fracturing his ankle on international duty with Belgium.

Hazard was influential in Chelsea’s title success to such an extent he has been linked with a move to Champions League winners Real Madrid.

Betway don’t believe Hazard’s injury will impact on any potential transfer to the Bernabeu and cut Chelsea’s star man from 11-4 to 9-4 to sign for Real Madrid.

Hazard is 3-10 to remain at Stamford Bridge despite refusing to confirm he would definitely be staying with Antonio Conte’s side.

Should Hazard make the switch to Spain that could leave Gareth Bale surplus to requirements in Madrid, although Hills are 1-6 he sticks with Zinedine Zidane’s side and it’s 7-1 the Welshman signs for United before the end of the summer transfer window.

David Flitcroft has been confirmed as Swindon’s new manager and Ladbrokes rate the Robins 14-1 to win Sky Bet League Two next season.

Sky Bet offer 5-2 that England win the Under-20 World Cup after they beat Mexico 1-0 to set-up a semi-final date with Italy.