Saints were hoping Van Dijk would resume training with his team-mates on Tuesday after he was left at home for their pre-season tour of France for telling manager Mauricio Pellegrino he wants to leave.

But the Dutch defender has taken his stand-off with the club into a second week and continuing to train on his own after reiterating that he wants to quit.

The latest twist in the summer-long saga leaves Saints in a difficult position, having previously insisted they will not do business with Liverpool after accusing them of tapping up their captain.

Head of football Les Reed fears losing face in the eyes of Southampton supporters if he caves in.

But with Liverpool willing to pay up to £60m and Van Dijk, 26, effectively refusing to play, Reed may have little choice.

Manchester City and Chelsea are also fans of the centre half but neither are prepared to match what Liverpool are offering.

Pellegrino is growing increasingly frustrated with the situation and feels it is undermining the crucial early weeks of his tenure after being named as successor to sacked Claude Puel last month.

Van Dijk only signed a six-year contract to become the highest paid player in Saints’ history last summer and Reed wants him to honour that commitment at least until the end of the new season.

Saints reported Liverpool to the Premier League over claims they tapped him up.

Liverpool publicly apologised to Saints but are still confident of landing their top defensive target.