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Former Liverpool midfielder Paul Ince believes the Reds will struggle to keep hold of Virgil van Dijk should Barcelona and Real Madrid attempt to sign the star defender this summer. 

The 52-year-old who played on Merseyside from 1997 to 1999 accepts Van Dijk has been instrumental to Liverpool's recent success, but he says the Dutchman could be tempted by the opportunity to play for one Spain's most historic clubs. 

Philipe Coutinho was the last player to trade Anfield for the Nou Camp in January 2018, and Ince suggests both Barca and Los Blancos have the financial strength to snatch Van Dijk from Liverpool's grasp.

Ince told the Liverpool Echo: 'I think what they're doing is great - the players and Klopp - but great teams win trophies year in year out.' 

'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.'