According to reports in the Southern Daily Echo, Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk has not handed in a transfer request and the club remain confident that they will keep hold of him.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Dutchman has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool and other top Premier League clubs this summer, and the Reds were forced to issue a statement last month apologising to south coast outfit after they were accused of tapping the centre-back up.
That hasn’t stopped murmurings but the Southern Daily Echo says that despite suggestions that the 26-year-old is so keen on a move to Anfield that he has spoken to the Saints hierarchy to force a move, it isn’t the case that he has asked to leave St Mary’s.
The report says that if Van Dijk did submit a written transfer request he would forgo his right to compensation for the remaining five years on his contract.
The Southern Daily Echo adds that as things stand Southampton are confident that they can keep their in demand skipper for at least another season as they don’t believe his value will drop in the next 12 months.
How good was Van Dijk last season?
The Dutchman has quickly established himself as one of the best centre-halves in the Premier League over the course of the last two seasons and despite missing the final five months of the previous campaign through injury, he produced some eye-catching performances and statistics.
In 21 top flight outings the 26-year-old won 98 aerial duels, while he showed how comfortable he is on the ball by successfully completing all of the eight take-ons that he attempted and having a passing accuracy of 84%.
Van Dijk also made 140 clearances and 56 interceptions in those appearances last season.
Is this the end of the saga?
Probably not considering the window doesn’t close for another six weeks.
Even though Liverpool have issued the statement saying that they would end their interest in the 26-year-old, stories have continued and the player has yet to say one way or another what he wants publicly.
While it seems highly unlikely that he is keen on a move to Liverpool, Southampton will hope that they can convince him to stay for one more season – especially after he signed a new six-year deal in 2016.
