Van not in driving seat
VIRGIL VAN DIJK has been warned he is no longer guaranteed his place at Southampton.
The £70m-rated Manchester City target was dropped for last weekend’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
And speaking ahead of today’s home clash with Huddersfield, Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino said: “I don’t know somebody guaranteed to play.
“We have won games, lost or drawn with all different players. We don’t depend just on one player.
“Virgil was out because I picked a team for the game.”
City boss Pep Guardiola is lining up a January swoop for Van Dijk, who handed in a transfer request in the summer to try and force through a move to Liverpool.
And Pellegrino added: “Virgil is an important player. There will be a lot of speculation around him.
“When you hear other clubs want you, it increases confidence and hopefully it will make him a better player.
“I cannot control the market or the information from outside.”
Saints are only three points above the relegation zone after a dismal run of one win in nine games and Pellegrino insists they have been underachieving.
The Argentinian said: “We are in a position nobody expected but in the Premier League competition is really tough. Each year it’s stronger.
“You have to fight for every single point but I am confident in my players to change the situation.”