Virgil van Dijk is waiting for Liverpool to make a £60million move for him following his explosive transfer request at Southampton.
Chelsea are set to rival the Reds’ interest in the Dutch defender but it is understood he favours a move to Anfield.
Van Dijk said in a statement: “I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours. As such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.”
The Holland defender, who signed a six-year deal last season, has hit out at the Saints’ repeated refusal to entertain “multiple” enquiries from top clubs for him.
He has also accused the club of leaking “private and personal conversations” and claimed they are trying to punish him with a fine without following the right procedures.
Southampton last night maintained there is no change in their position despite Van Dijk's transfer request. The club have not yet had any bids for him insist he is not for sale.
Liverpool backed away from their no.1 defensive target after being called out by the Saints for allegedly tapping him up. The Reds have since maintained they will not approach Van Dijk unless Southampton decide to sell.
In the meantime Van Dijk has been made to train away from the Saints first-team squad after making his wish to leave known to new boss Mauricio Pellegrino .
His full, strongly-worded statement read: “It is with regret that I can confirm that I have today handed in a transfer request to leave Southampton.
“Unfortunately I feel I have no alternative after I was given notice of the club's intention to impose a disciplinary sanction against me of a fine equivalent to 2 weeks wages. I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course.
“Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
“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.
“I have been left frustrated by the club's position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed.
“The period of time that I have just spent injured and unable to play has put a number of things into perspective and made me realise just how important it is to take major opportunities should they arise.
“I have consistently relayed my feelings to senior management at Southampton in what I believed to be private and personal conversations.
Disappointingly, these conversations have regularly found their way into the media.
“I had very much hoped to retain the good relationship I've always enjoyed with everyone at the club, especially the fans, but unfortunately in light of everything that's happened this has now been seriously affected.
“I would like to make clear that I have nothing but gratitude to everyone at Southampton for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League.
“However, the time for me to move on is now and I hope to be able to work with the club to find the best resolution to suit all parties.”