Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has indicated that the club’s stance towards Chelsea and Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk has not changed despite the defender slapping in a transfer request.

The defender’s move to Liverpool earlier in the summer collapsed after Southampton complained against the Reds for allegedly illegally tapping up the player.




Liverpool tendered a public apology and ended their interest in the Dutchman, while Chelsea have been linked with the defender, and Van Dijk tried to force the issue last week when he slapped in a transfer request with Southampton.

He criticised the club’s position on not selling him this summer and insisted that they are standing between him and his ambition but Pellegrino stressed that Southampton’s views on the situation remains the same.
 


The Saints boss is still expecting the player to return to training with the squad and insisted that he remains part of the club.  

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"My reaction is the same that I said three weeks ago", the Southampton manager said in a press conference.

"We are expecting him to come back to train with us because we need the player.

"Hopefully he can change his point of view.

"The club was clear from the beginning with the player.

"We cannot control every single situation. Virgil is part of our club.

“He has a contract but we are now waiting."

However, Pellegrino confirmed that Van Dijk will miss the opening Premier League game against Swansea this weekend due to illness.

"No, no, because this week he was with some trouble with a virus.

"He couldn't train the last two days."

The defender has been training alone over the last few weeks and has not been part of Southampton’s pre-season preparations.