Van Dijk ready to spur Liverpool to silverware

London: Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is confident the team can step up another level in the upcoming campaign as the Premier League side looks to end their trophy drought after coming close in recent seasons.

The Merseyside outfit’s most recent triumph was a League Cup win in 2012 and despite showing improvement under Juergen Klopp, the German manager has seen them lose three finals since he joined the club in 2015.

“We’re going to work our socks off and do everything possible to make it happen this season. We were very close to silverware but obviously not close enough,” Netherlands international Van Dijk told Liverpool’s website.

“I can improve in any aspect of the game. At the moment, it’s getting back to full fitness, making sure I’m getting better and stronger than I was before. I will work every day and do everything possible and no doubt it will happen.”

The 27-year-old made 22 appearances for Liverpool after he joined them in January, helping the club finish fourth in the league and reach the Champions League final, which they lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in May.

Van Dijk missed Liverpool’s first pre-season friendly on Saturday, when Klopp’s men recorded a crushing 7-0 win over non-league Chester, but is expected to take part in several fixtures leading up to next month’s Premier League kick-off.

Meanwhile, Ajax Amsterdam are eager to re-sign defender Daley Blind from Manchester United if the Dutch side fail to recruit Boca Juniors centre-back Lisandro Magallan, the Eredivisie club’s manager Erik ten Hag has said.

The 28-year-old Blind, who progressed through Ajax’s youth system and made over 100 senior appearances for the Dutch side, joined United in 2014 but appears to be out of favour under Jose Mourinho.

“We are doing everything, but it also depends on other parties,” Ten Hag is quoted as saying by Sky Sports about his desire to sign the 28-year-old Blind.

The ‘other parties’, not only referred to United but also Boca Juniors, where the 24-year-old Magallan has been since 2012 and for whom he helped retain Argentina’s top-flight title last season.

“He is still in the picture, but whether he actually arrives is still unclear,” Ten Hag added about Magallan. “It will be either one of Magallan or Blind.

“Both of them do not seem realistic.”