Tapping up goes on all the time. We've had it done to us with Suarez and Sterling in recent times, it's nothing new. £50-60m is already too much imo and don't think Southampton can realistically think they can get more. Apparently both City and Chelsea are reluctant to go over that and will look elsewhere. Maybe City/Chelsea would be able to structure the payment so that Southampton get more of it upfront and maybe that's why they would prefer to sell to one of those two, who knows.
May also just be bit of a stunt to show their fan's they haven't let yet another one of their players go without a little fight and maybe trying to push Van Dijk into handing a transfer request so he forgoes any bonuses, payments etc.
I'm not overly sold on Van Dijk. Good defender yes, does suit Klopp's style as he is good on the front foot snuffing out danger and maybe he can push on to become a cracking world class defender.
However, I'm not totally convinced with his concentration levels and noted on a number of occasions he ball watches. Everyone has bad games however do remember watching him in one game vs spurs after we were first linked and he scored early on but from a defensive point of view I thought he was dreadful on the day and was all at sea up against Kane and Alli. Again, one game doesn't make or break a player but there were a few other instances which didn't leave me totally convinced.
Overall, think he is good premiership defender but not as good as he is being made out to be.........yet. Who knows, maybe he can get there if he pushes on