All summer long Liverpool have been chasing some high profile targets without much success.Southampton reported them to the FA for 'tapping up' Virgil Van Dijk earlier this summer and Liverpool promptly dropped their interest in the Dutch defender for fear of the repercussions the league may have brought down on them.The Reds have also been frustrated in their pursuit of Naby Keita. The midfielder's club, RB Leipzig, refused to part ways with the Guinean this summer and Liverpool will have to wait until next summer when a release clause becomes active in his contract.Boss Jurgen Klopp did manage to secure Mohamed Salah from AS Roma earlier this summer for £35 million and also brought Dominic Solanke and Andrew Robertson to the club.However, many believe that the club is still missing a top centre-half to make them truly competitive and, alas, rumours of a move for Van Dijk have failed to subside.On Monday, the Dutch defender decided to take matters into his own hands and hand in a transfer request.The 26-year-old says he felt like he was left with no choice from the club and after they attempted to fine him two weeks wages, he finally said enough was enough.Chief Football Writer for The Times, Henry Winter, posted a series of tweets that explained Van Dijk's decision:

All summer long it has been common knowledge that Van Dijk wants to move to Liverpool and is sold on working with Klopp.

Will he get his wish now that the transfer request has been submitted? Southampton would still have to invite an offer from Liverpool and the Reds have been very clear they would not pursue the player unless they were given sufficient encouragement to do so.

Chelsea have been rumoured with a move for the player in recent days and considering Antonio Conte's continuing frustrations with the size of his squad, that's a very plausible move.

However, if Van Dijk wants to head to Anfield, the time is now for Liverpool to make their move. It is understood any move for Van Dijk will cost around £60 million.