Celtic look set to cash in on Virgil van Dijk with the defender telling Southampton that he wants to leave.
Van Dijk left Celtic two years ago in a £10m deal to Southampton with a sell on clause believed to be between 10-15% on any future sale.
Liverpool seemed close to agreeing a £60m deal for the defender but that fell through after Southampton reported Jurgen Klopp’s side to the FA over an improper approach for the player.
Southampton will step up their pre-season preparations by going to France next week with their club captain left behind.
New Celtic manager Mauricio Pellegrino told The Telegraph: “My relationship with Virgil is excellent. I was clear with the boy, and I was talking from the first day with him. The club was clear.
“The club told me they will not sell Virgil. I communicate the idea of the club to the players and for me it was easy [to leave Van Dijk out of training] because I had to manage the dynamic of the team.
“Now he is not involved with the team because psychologically he is not 100 per cent. If you are not 100 per cent with the team I need to work with the players who are 100 per cent to defend Southampton. It’s easy for me.”
Chelsea and Manchester City have been linked with van Dijk but it’s believed that Liverpool are the players personal preference.
Within a year of joining the club he signed a new six year contract under Ronald Koeman who moved on to Everton.
Southampton stated last season that he wasn’t for sale under any circumstances but if a bid for £60m comes in for a player not in the right frame of mind to play it’ll be incredible if the club turn it down.
