Sunday 17 September 2017 10:18, UK
Mauricio Pellegrino insists Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is “one of the best players in the Premier League” but admits he does not know what will happen in January.
The Dutchman made his first senior appearance since January on Saturday, coming on as an 87th-minute substitute as Southampton got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Van Dijk was the subject of summer transfer speculation and had been training on his own after handing in a transfer request before his return to the squad, and Pellegrino accepts there will be interest in the centre-back because he believes he is one of the best players in the league.
"Around the player there is a lot of interest. You know how football is, it's a big business. We have to accept that. Around him it is the same situation. Now we have to leave aside this situation. Now everything is normal," Pellegrino said.
"Now, for me I've got this group of players and I will try to push them, to work with them, to help them, to improve every single day.
"We never know how the market will be in January. We can bring in some players, every single squad can improve. We have got people who are working to improve our squad all the time.
"And for the other teams it's the same. They will push to bring the best players and Virgil is one case. He's one of the best players in the Premier League.
"It's normal that the biggest teams in the Premier League want to buy him."
