Van Dijk begs for Saints transfer
Southampton demanded an investigation into tappingup allegations. Liverpool escaped Premier League sanctions as the Saints were happy with the apology they received.
He still wants to move to Anfield, having also been linked with Chelsea, who are now focused on signing Serge Aurier from Paris St-Germain.
Van Dijk became the highest-paid player in Southampton’s history when he signed a six-year contract in May 2016 but he sacked his agent days later.
The former Celtic centre-back was left out of the Saints’ pre-season tour of France because, said boss Mauricio Pellegrino, he was not in the right frame of mind to play.
In a lengthy statement, the defender said: “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.
Feelings
“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.
“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.”
Pellegrino ordered Van Dijk to train away from the rest of the squad last month after declaring the defender was not in a fit psychological state to play.
Van Dijk has responded angrily to suggestions he refused to train.
He said: “I would also like to make clear that I have never once refused to train.
“As a proud professional I am insulted by the suggestion that it was me who refused to train and so feel it is important to point out the true version of events.”
But Southampton were standing firm last night and a club source said: “Virgil asking for a transfer does not come as a surprise as we were expecting it.
“It doesn’t change anything. We do not want or need to sell him.”