Virgil van Dijk transfer – Southampton ‘would prefer to sell van Dijk to Chelsea’ rather than Liverpool following tapping-up saga
The dominant Dutch centre-half has impressed during his time at St Mary's, but it looks like his career could be elsewhere
SOUTHAMPTON will resist any offer from Liverpool for their centre-half Virgil van Dijk, preferring to deal with Chelsea.
The Dutch international is in-demand after an impressive stint at St Mary's since joining from Celtic for £15million in September 2015.
That has alerted a host of Europe's top clubs - including Liverpool, who Southampton threatened to report for tapping up their star man.
Because of that, Saints official, who refuse to accept defeat in persuading van Dijk to stay, would prefer to deal with Chelsea as oppose to Jurgen Klopp's Merseysiders, reports the Times.
SunSport has recently reported how the Blues will make a £50million bid for the Holland star, 26.
Chelsea hope Liverpool’s poor relationship with Saints will work to their advantage.
The Reds have signed Southampton’s star players – including Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Sadio Mane – in recent years.
Liverpool issued a grovelling apology to Saints after they threatened to report the Anfield club to the Premier League for allegedly making an illegal approach to Van Dijk.
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But Klopp’s side are still frontrunners to sign the former Celtic centre-back.
Southampton insist they will NOT sell their star man.
Van Dijk has trained on his own after telling boss Mauricio Pellegrino he wants out of the club.
He is not expected to play against Swansea next Saturday in the first game of the Premier League season due to a lack of match fitness.
