Massive development in Virgil van Dijk transfer stand-off

This could change the situation.

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has been made train alone. According to new Saints manager Mauricio Pellegrino, Van Dijk has said he wants to quit the club this summer, and as such has been excluded from the first-team squad. "The boy said that he is not available to play because he wants to leave" Pellegrino told the Southern Daily Echo. The Saints manager also stressed that, despite making his captain train alone, the club do not want to sell him and the relationship between the pair has not been affected.

"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."

Pellegrino also said that he hopes the player, who has five years remaining on his contract, will reconsider his stance. In June, it was reported that the Dutch defender had decided to sign for Liverpool, and the transfer fee would be £60m. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell Southampton. The Saints got wind of the reported agreement between Liverpool and Van Dijk, and raised the issue with the Premier League. Before the situation could develop any further, Liverpool performed a U-turn. They apologised to the club, and claimed their interest in the 25-year-old had ended. The latest development in the Van Dijk transfer saga could reignite their interest in the defender. It was certainly music to the ears of Liverpool fans, who are very excited by the prospect of Van Dijk at Anfield next season. https://twitter.com/AnfieldPress/status/888432475550212096 https://twitter.com/thejoshsimmons/status/888432341026263041 https://twitter.com/Espin_149/status/888440016002842624 https://twitter.com/TonhoMartinez15/status/888440096499920896 https://twitter.com/JayGB1982/status/888440188363558913 https://twitter.com/LFC_Articles/status/888440228930867200 https://twitter.com/Zaneinho9/status/888435537471836160 https://twitter.com/Klopp4President/status/888435123816988676 https://twitter.com/MattPrice30/status/888436075429064705