That is the opinion of former Liverpool goalkeeper and pundit Chris Kirkland.
Van Dijk has been subject of interest from the Reds throughout the summer transfer window.
He handed in a transfer request earlier this month in an attempt to force through an exit from Southampton.
However, Saints maintain he will not be sold before the window shuts at 11pm tonight.
Kirkland believes Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will put his faith in his current defenders of they cannot sign Van Dijk, rather than going for a new target.
“They tried to sign Van Dijk, that one obviously has been going on for a long time and looks like it’s not going to happen,” Kirkland said on Sky Sports.
“I’m sure they will be disappointed with that.
“We’ve got some fantastic centre-halves here, it’s up to them to tighten the ship at the back and to keep more clean sheets if possible.
“If we can keep more clean sheets, then with the players we’ve got we will always score goals in any game.
“It all depends who’s available, at what price, and if that player fits into the style Jurgen Klopp wants to play.
“If there’s not, then there’s no point and going and signing someone just for the sake of it.
“Get one of the youngsters involved, we’ve seen Jurgen likes to get the youngsters involved from the academy. I’d prefer to go down that route.”