Paul Ince has warned former club Liverpool that they risk losing Virgil van Dijk at the end of the season if one of Real Madrid or Barcelona table an offer.

The Netherlands international has been instrumental to the Reds' success since arriving from Southampton in a record deal for a defender just over two years ago.

Spanish giants Madrid and Barca have been credited with an interest in Van Dijk, however, and Ince believes that it may be out of Liverpool's hands if one of those clubs make an approach.

"I think what they're doing is great - the players and Klopp - but great teams win trophies year in year out," he is quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo. "They've got a big chance to do that but we'll need to look back in a few years to see what they've done to say that was a great Liverpool team.

"Obviously it's now a question of how they get better in the future. It's tough because they've got some young exciting players who are only going to improve but in football things change - we saw that with Philippe Coutinho, suddenly someone like Barcelona comes in and they're off.

"It's a case of keeping the best players at Liverpool. Will someone come in for Van Dijk? When Barcelona or Real Madrid come knocking it's hard to say no.

"That's the thing about being a victim of your own success. When you're doing so many great things like Liverpool are doing it alerts other big clubs like Barcelona or Madrid. It's hard to say no as a player when they come in."

Liverpool are reportedly planning to offer Van Dijk a new contract in an attempt to fend off interest from rival clubs.