The Virgil van Dijk lesson Manchester United must repeat to complete Declan Rice transfer

It was just over five years ago, at the beginning of 2017, that Liverpool's recruitment team put their heads together and settled on the missing ingredient that they knew would help them end their pursuit of their first-ever Premier League title.

They decided that they needed to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton as a matter of urgency. Although they wanted him, they knew, deep down, the truth was that they needed him. That was the difference.

The scouting department had done all of the necessary checks and examinations on the Dutchman and decided that he was the man that they knew would help move them move one step nearer to standing on the top step of English football's podium.

Having settled on the Dutchman, who has, of course, since transformed Liverpool's fortunes and helped them win their maiden Premier League title, plus a sixth Champions League crown, claims emerged that Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had held discussions with Van Dijk before the Reds had even made official contact with Southampton.

A whole load of drama, including Southampton reporting Liverpool to the Premier League, and statements followed, but, ultimately, the Merseyside club got their man, confirming they had reached a £75million agreement with the Saints just days before everyone prepared to flip their calendars over to introduce 2018.

It was a bumpy road that Liverpool had navigated to ensure Van Dijk swapped St Mary's for Anfield, but, in the end, they got the deal done.

It was mission accomplished.

Although it had taken the best part of 12 months, plus an embarrassing climbdown from Liverpool following their initial movements in an attempt to get the deal over the line, patience had paid off. Klopp had what he needed and Van