Virgil van Dijk handed in an official transfer request earlier in the month (Picture: Getty)

Southampton will find it very difficult to keep hold of want-away defender Virgil van Dijk in the last week of the summer transfer window, according to Nigel Winterburn.

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City have all expressed interest in the Dutch star, who handed in a formal transfer request earlier in the month.

Jurgen Klopp appeared set to bring Van Dijk to Anfield earlier in the summer but the Reds were forced to withdraw from the transfer race and apologise following tapping-up offences.

Southampton have sold a number of players to league rivals in recent years and Winterburn says the Saints do not want to be seen as a selling club.

However, the former England defender believes 26-year-old Van Dijk could still be on the move before the August 31 deadline.

‘When you put two and two together, generally you get a sale don’t you? But I think their stance is they want to change their approach,’ Winterburn told Sky Sports.

‘They don’t want to be seen as a selling club. A lot of clubs have come in, picked up their best players, Arsenal have done it, so have Liverpool.

‘Now they want to say “we’ve got to stop this selling mode and keep hold of our best players because we want to progress and move on in the Premier League”.

‘The problem is, when you’ve got a player like Virgil van Dijk, he sees his next move as going to a significantly better club to challenge for titles.

The Dutch defender has impressed for Southampton since signing from Celtic (Picture: Getty)

‘To hold that player back from that, although he’s signed a long contract, is going to be very difficult for them.’

Van Dijk has impressed at Southampton since joining from Celtic in 2015 and Winterburn insists he is one of the best defenders in the top-flight.

He added: ‘He’s up there with best centre-backs in the Premier League.

‘There were some doubts when he moved from Celtic but this guy is absolutely sensational.

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn says Van Dijk is a top defender (Picture: Getty)

‘He’s comfortable on the ball, he can bring the ball out, he’s a strong defender as well – he’s a perfect fit for a modern Premier League centre-back.’

Explaining his reasons for handing in a formal transfer request, Van Dijk said: ‘Unfortunately I feel that I have no alternative after I was given notice of the club’s intention to impose a disciplinary sanction on me of a fine equivalent to two weeks’ wages.

‘I am incredibly ambitious, and want to achieve as much as I possibly can, to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer.

‘I want to play European football again, and challenge for major honours, and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.’

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