Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino hoping to scupper Virgil van Dijk move to Liverpool

Last month Van Dijk told Southampton he wanted to leave the club and the south coast side responded by banishing him from first-team training.

Liverpool remain favourites to sign Van Dijk despite claiming to have ended their interest in the player when they were accused of making an illegal approach.

The 26-year-old missed Southampton’s training camp in France and his presence was badly missed yesterday when they were beaten 4-0 by German side FC Augsburg.

Van Dijk's aim is to move to Anfield but Southampton are determined not to let him leave this summer.

And Pellegrino hopes he can persuade the Dutch international to commit his future because the club won't be selling.

He said: “I would like to bring the boy and to persuade him that he’s important for us and the club will not sell him.

“We are expecting the best for everyone, even for Virgil, but he doesn't want to be part of the team.

“This is the reason he is aside from the team.”

He added: "We continue in the same way. The situation is the same.

“I can’t say no more, because the situation is the boy is aside of the team because he doesn't want to play for us.”