Southampton will report Liverpool to the Premier League for their 'illegal' pursuit of Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk.
BBC Radio Solent have reported that Southampton will take such measures in response to Liverpool's much-publicised interest in Van Dijk, who signed for the south coast club from Celtic in 2015.
It's been reported from many UK media outlets that the player himself prefers Liverpool to other suitors due to manager Jurgen Klopp's personal efforts to secure his services, but it would appear Southampton feel Klopp and Liverpool haven't followed due process in their attempt to sign the player.
Under the transfer rules established by both FIFA and the FA, if a club wants to procure the services of a player that is registered with another, they must speak directly with the player's club and not to the player or his agent.
Liverpool are already serving a two-year ban from signing academy players from other English clubs after breaching separate transfer rules last year. The club made an illegal approach to a 12-year-old Stoke City player, whose school fees were being paid for by Stoke. Liverpool had also offered to pay for the youngster and his family to attend a game at Anfield, before accepting charges against them and a £100,000 fine.
