Van Dijk to leave Southampton, as he’s currently ‘Championship standard’ – Carra

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Jamie Carragher reckons Southampton have little choice but to sell Virgil van Dijk in January, with the Dutchman’s value diminishing by the week.

Multiple clubs wanted van Dijk in the summer, but the centre-back chose Liverpool as his ideal next destination.

Sadly, Liverpool never submitted a bid despite him being Jurgen Klopp’s first-choice, with Southampton reporting us to the Premier League for an illegal approach in June.

The dust has settled between the clubs now, and with van Dijk enduring a poor campaign, the south coast club will surely be more inclined to sell.

Carra thinks van Dijk’s performances means his price will be between £50m and £60m and that his current form belongs in the Championship…

“We are talking about a player who I think Southampton should sell because it hasn’t worked keeping him,” he said on Sky Sports, cited by the Star.

“The results haven’t been great and Southampton look like they need reinforcements on the pitch.

“So if they bring £50-60m, whatever it may be, back into the club, I think it’s going to help the team because at this moment he’s not.

“The difference with, say, Liverpool is Philippe Coutinho is playing that well that he’s maybe putting his price up.

“I don’t know if his (Van Dijk’s) is coming down, but he has to get himself right, whether that’s at Southampton between now and the end of the season to keep these clubs interested, or if he’s going to move.

“He’s probably going to play in Champions League football in February, at this moment it’s more Championship football he’s playing than Champions League.”

Manchester City are also keen on the 26-year-old which likely ruins any chance of us getting him cheap, in fairness.

The chance to work for Pep Guardiola will obviously appeal to any player as well, especially with City almost guaranteed to win the title already.

Either way, Liverpool need a new centre-back. Dejan Lovren and Ragnar Klavan are doing well at the moment, but it won’t be long before another mistake is thrown in and the fanbase loses its collective head again.

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