Van Dijk refuses to play for Southampton to seal Liverpool move

 

Virgil Van Dijk is now refusing to play in any pre-season friendlies for Southampton in order to secure a move to Liverpool this summer, reports Yahoo Sport.

 

The Netherlands international has been told to train away from the first-team squad by Mauricio Pellegrino after informing the new Southampton head coach he no longer wants to be at the club.

 

Van Dijk has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League in the last two seasons and was heavily expected to join Liverpool earlier in the summer.

 

Southampton were willing to do business with Jurgen Klopp’s side until they found out the Merseyside outfit broke regulations and turned Van Dijk’s head before even coming to the club with any offer.

 

Klopp’s side were forced to apologise and put an end to their pursuit leaving Van Dijk’s future up in the air. Pellegrino had hoped to convince the Dutchman to play for the club next season but that is the last thing on the 26-year-old’s mind.

 

Van Dijk hasn’t played since January after suffering a serious ankle injury and has now even gone to the lengths of refusing to play for Southampton in order to secure a transfer away, even though he still has five years left to run on his existing deal.

 

 

Manchester City and Chelsea are still interested in Van Dijk but the Dutchman has made it clear he wants to join Liverpool, although Southampton would only ever entertain a world record fee for a defender.

 

Only Steve Cook (268) has won more aerial duels than Van Dijk (261) of Premier League defenders since August 2015, while 10 WhoScored Man of the Match awards during that time is also a high for players in his position.