Southampton are prepared to turn down Liverpool’s expectedly enormous offer for Virgil van Dijk and let the Dutchman rot in the Under-23s all season.
That’s according to SaintsWeb user Tom28, who in fairness, has had the inside track on the centre-back’s future all summer – before most recognised journalists.
Here’s what he had to say:
“I was expecting a update yesterday but all relatively quiet as of last night. Club still working hard to line up our deals and getting ready to respond if a serious offer for VVD come in which is expected. Still being told that a improved Liverpool offer, if it comes, is likely to be rejected. Club are prepared to call VVd’s bluff and leave him to sit out the whole season if that’s what he wants to do. Club don’t think he’ll do that all season but if he does the club are prepared for that to happen.”
Yesterday, Liverpool fans lost the plot, following rogue planes and taxis online which van Dijk could have been sat in on the way to a rumoured Melwood medical. Sadly, he wasn’t, and with less than 48 hours left of the window, the saga rumbles on.
We’ve yet to lodge a serious offer for the 25-year-old, but everyone knows he’s Jurgen Klopp’s top target and a massive bid will be submitted at some point.
How Southampton react is uncertain, of course. They could play hardball and make a point, but with Liverpool happy to smash the world record fee for a defender for his services, can they really afford to do so?
It’s what we’re doing to Barcelona with Coutinho – but we’re a much bigger club than Southampton and are rightly expecting to challenge for trophies.
The Saints are well within their rights to refuse to do business, but we really hope Liverpool are ready to break the bank for the towering defender. He could be the difference between a title challenge and a top four one this campaign.