Van Dijk deal in doubt
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Southampton are prepared to sit it out and deny Virgil van Dijk a £60m move.
On Monday the defender issued a lengthy statement that was highly critical of the club which has sent their relationship to rock bottom.
Less than a year after joining from Celtic van Dijk signed a new six year contract with Southampton but within a year of that his ambition has forced him into making a transfer request.
In June the club threatened Liverpool with an FA enquiry over an illegal approach for their player with the Anfield club withdrawing their interest, for the time being.
According to a report in The Express a club insider said: “We do not want to sell Virgil to Liverpool and will happily let him sit in the stands all season if we have to.
“Most of the fans would back the club in this after everything that has gone on.”
Celtic are due a cut of any future transfer fee which could bring Brendan Rodgers a £5m bonus.
Liverpool remain the bookies favourites to sign van Dijk but Southampton do seem to be taking a very firm line with the proposed move.
Manchester City and Chelsea have also been linked with the defender but it looks like the saga will run until the final days of the transfer window.