Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has told fans to ignore the price tag which comes along with Virgil van Dijk's transfer to the club.

News emerged yesterday that the Reds have agreed a £75m deal to bring Van Dijk to Anfield, beating Chelsea and Manchester City to the Dutch defender's signature after missing out during the summer.

The Southampton centre-back will become the most expensive January signing of all time when the transfer officially goes through on New Year's Day, with the fee also making him the most expensive defender in football history.

Asked what Van Dijk will bring to Liverpool, Klopp told Sky Sports News: "Quality. That's why we got him. That's why we were interested in him.

"It's quite difficult at the moment: he's still technically a player of Southampton, that's how it is. We will have much more time and, I imagine, much more opportunities to talk about him. I can imagine people think, 'Wow, what a number it is', but of course, for me, it's not really interesting. We don't make the prices, the market makes the prices.

"The first thing all Liverpool supporters should forget quite soon is the price. We only talk about the player, what he can bring in, his qualities, his mentality, his character, all that stuff. That's why we are really happy about it."

Van Dijk has already described himself as "delighted and honoured" to have agreed a deal to join Liverpool.