Virgil van Dijk must stay at Southampton this January and can’t join Liverpool until next summer says Saints legend Matt Le Tissier
Holland centre-back will be made to wait for his dream step up to a major club, according to St Mary's insider Le Tissier
VIRGIL VAN DIJK is staying at Southampton this January and will not be allowed to join Liverpool until next summer.
That is the view of Saints legend and club insider Matt Le Tissier, despite frenzied interest in the Dutch international during the last transfer window.
Southampton, managed to fend off interest from Anfield but interest in taking the 26-year-old away from St Mary's remains hot and Jurgen Klopp will move again once the window reopens.
But Le Tissier, who spent his entire 16-year professional playing career with the Saints, believes his former employers have the resources to resist the temptation to cash in on Van Dijk in January.
The Dutch defender was training with the youth team pre-season as he looked to get away, sparking questions marks over his commitment to the club.
But Le Tissier revealed: "There doesn't seem to be any problem between the rest of the players and himself.
"A football changing room is a funny place. You get forgiven for a lot very quickly, as long as you are playing well.
"I could probably see him staying until the end of the season.
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"It will be very difficult I imagine to hold onto him any longer than that, given what will probably happen in terms of bids coming in next summer.
"But hopefully he can have a great season for us and help us climb the table first before he leaves."
Van Dijk himself still thinks a January exit is possible.
He told Fox Sports last week: "Halfway through the season, maybe we can see what is possible.
"I'm glad I'm fit again and I can give up to 100 per cent.
"Of course I wanted to make a step up but Southampton did not want to sell me.
"But you're a professional, so now I'll give everything to the club."
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