Bookmakers have reinstalled Liverpool as favourites to sign Virgil Van Dijk.

Liverpool have been trying to land the Dutch international but they officially pulled back and apologised to Southampton, after the Saints threatened to report them to the Premier League over their conduct.

Chelsea and Manchester City both remain keen, but Liverpool are reportedly ready to re-join the race – despite the fact Southampton continue to insist that he is not for sale.

Ladbrokes now say the Southampton man is just 4/7 to move to Anfield in the coming months, while 15/8 says he stays at St Mary’s.

Chelsea remain 7/2 shots for his signature but anyone else is considered an outsider (6/1 or longer) in the race to sign one of the Premier League’s best centre-halves.

Alex Apati of Ladrbokes said: “Things didn’t exactly go according to plan for Liverpool the last time they tried to land Van Dijk. But the Reds have a history of doing business with Southampton, and we’re expecting Mohamed Salah’s arrival to act as a catalyst for more huge deals.”