Liverpool are still closely following Southampton star Virgil van Dijk – the man who remains a top summer target for the Merseysiders.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the Dutch star – who was left back at the club’s Staplewood training ground by manager Mauricio Pellegrino after he was deemed to not be in the right frame of mind to travel to France for their pre-season camp, has now been told he has to stay at St Mary’s Stadium next term.
The Saints want to keep the 26-year-old centre-back and are apparently ready to bring him back into the first-team frame, but Van Dijk is still hopeful of forcing a move away from the Premier League side.
Despite having a contract until 2022, Van Dijk told the South Coast club earlier this month he wanted to leave and Liverpool – who were forced to apologise to Saints after alleged tapping-up of the defender – are still confident they can land him.
Although Southampton are insistent no major sales will be made this summer, Manchester City are also waiting in the wings for the former Celtic man.
Saints hierarchy are set to meet with the defender upon returning from France in the coming days.
