‘Virgil can sit in the stands’
and are determined not to do business with them even if it means missing out on a £60million fee.
They are also conscious of not being made to look weak in the eyes of their fans by being bullied into a deal with the Merseysiders.
A club insider said: “We do not want to sell Virgil to Liverpool and will happily let him sit in the stands all season if we have to.
“Most of the fans would back the club in this after everything that has gone on.”
With Van Dijk, 25, now a hate figure with Saints followers after launching a scathing attack on club bosses in a strongly-worded statement, it is unlikely he will ever pull on their shirt again.
He signed a six-year contract last summer making him their highest-paid player and his only hope of an escape could be Chelsea coming in with a late bid on deadline.
Saints have already begun planning for life after Van Dijk and are considering a move for Middlesbrough captain Ben Gibson. The stumbling block is Boro’s £30m asking price so Tottenham’s Kevin Wimmer is also on transfer guru Les Reed’s list of targets.
Saints last night completed the signing of Juventus midfielder Mario Lemina, 23, for a club-record £18m. The Gabon international signed a five-year deal and Reed said: “Mario is an outstanding talent who has already achieved a great deal in his career.
“He played in the Champions League final in June and has won a number of titles and gained experience of playing on some of the biggest stages in world football.
“Investing in a player of Mario’s quality and buying from a club like Juventus is a significant statement of intent from the club,.”
Lemina said: “I am really happy to have signed for Southampton.
“It was the project that attracted me the most and the one my family was really behind.”