Virgil van Dijk has formally asked to leave Southampton Football Club and Paul Joyce has revealed further details of what this could mean for Liverpool.
Liverpool could face competition for Virgil van Dijk even though the defender wishes to move to Merseyside.
Paul Joyce of the Times has reported that the Dutchman feels ‘insulted’ by Southampton and has accused the south-coast club of “sabotaging his career.” Joyce claims the defender has been left feeling insulted by “claims that he refused to train with Mauricio Pellegrino’s squad.”
Despite the fiery transfer request being submitted, Joyce believes it’s going to remain far from smooth sailing for the Reds as they attempt to finally get a deal over the line after two months of excruciating waiting.
Southampton are said to have responded to these latest developments by “maintaining that Van Dijk is not for sale,” but that their “stance will continue to be tested before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.”
The Reds will also face competition for the Dutchman’s signature from Arsenal and Chelsea who, despite knowing that the player currently wants Liverpool, will “hope that Southampton could still refuse to countenance selling to the Anfield club.”
Joyce ends by stating that the saga is “unlikely to be resolved soon.”
Whatever happens, van Dijk surely will not play for Southampton again and will likely not be there come September 1st.
The Dutchman’s claims that the club have leaked private conversations to the media in order to turn the fanbase against him while falsely claiming it was he who refused to participate in training, in particular, looking to represent the final straw.
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