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Former Southampton striker Charlie Austin previously revealed just how close Virgil van Dijk came to joining Manchester United.
The Red Devils ultimately chose a different path, however, deciding to sign Victor Lindelof instead. Liverpool legend Van Dijk, 34, had already spent two years at St. Mary's when rumours surfaced about United's interest during the summer of 2017.
In an alternate reality, the centre-back could have been preparing in the away dressing room this Sunday when United visit Anfield. Yet when United couldn't reach an agreement for the Netherlands international, they opted for Lindelof from Benfica instead. Austin disclosed how a transfer that might have dramatically altered the trajectory of two of England's biggest clubs played out, or rather failed to materialize.
"I remember in the back end of his Southampton career we were on the bench together at Chelsea away," he told talkSPORT in 2021.
"I sat there and was like, 'Virg lad, what's going on? Surely Manchester United must have been in for you? Massive club in England, etc.' He went, 'Do you know what Chaz, in the summer it was like between me and Lindelof, and they signed Lindelof.'
"I was like, 'You are joking!' I couldn't believe it, I was gobsmacked. There was talk of him going there, and then they have taken Lindelof instead."
It goes without saying that Liverpool secured the better player when they eventually opted for Van Dijk's signature in January 2018.
Merely six months after a bid from United failed to materialise, Van Dijk joined their greatest rivals for £75million, a world-record fee for a defender at that point.
Austin offered additional insight into Van Dijk's attempts to secure a transfer at the time, even downing tools at Southampton in his quest to depart.
It wasn't long before he arrived at Anfield, where he would subsequently claim two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy.
"The manager was there, [Mauricio] Pellegrino at the time, and in the summer he (Van Dijk) was looking to go," Austin continued. "I remember he (Pellegrino) got everyone around at training, including Virg, and just came out and said, 'Look lads, Virgil wants to go, we're not allowing it and he's said he's not going to play, so he's not going to train with us.'".
"That was in front of everybody. There was no heads-up from the manager. It was stamping his authority. He didn't move in the summer, two days later the transfer window shut and Virg was starting again on the Saturday. He apologized to the lads but we were like, 'We understand, you were linked with Liverpool and you wanted to go.'"
Van Dijk's passion for joining Jurgen Klopp's project at Anfield was evident, even as United celebrated a Europa League and EFL Cup double under Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2017. This didn't deter his interest in Liverpool.
The careers of the two defenders in question have taken different paths in England. While Van Dijk ushered in a new era of success in Merseyside, Lindelof spent eight years at Old Trafford during a period of decline.
Despite the club's struggles, the Swedish international had his own triumphs at United, winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, and finishing as a runner-up in the Europa League twice. Lindelof left United this summer when his contract ended and subsequently joined Aston Villa on a free transfer.
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