Nigel Adkins urges Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk to show some respect

Follow us on Google Discover

Virgil van Dijk has been heavily linked with making a move from Southampton to Liverpool this summer.

Former Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has suggested that Virgil van Dijk should show the Saints some respect with regards to the ongoing situation over his future, Sky Sports reports.

Van Dijk appears to be at the centre of one of the most intriguing sagas of the summer window, with Sky Sports reporting that despite the Saints previously complaining about Liverpool’s conduct in their pursuit of the Dutchman, the centre-back is keen to join the Reds.

Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk

According to Sky Sports, the former Celtic ace has told Mauricio Pellegrino that he wants to make the move to Anfield and has told those close to him that he expects to be a Liverpool player by the end of the window – seemingly prompting Pellegrino to leave the 26-year-old out of the Saints’ squad for their pre-season tour and order the defender to train on his own.

And Adkins has suggested that van Dijk has handled the situation poorly – pointing out that he was previously content enough on the south coast to commit his future to the club with a new contract.

“We’ve got a situation in football where it’s too easy for a player to say ‘I am unhappy’… well the player was not unhappy when he signed a contract not so long ago,” he said, as reported by Sky Sports.

“He has to be respectful of that contract as well and if business gets done, get it done privately and done behind the scenes. If Van Dijk does go, Southampton will get the asking price, which seems very expensive at this point in time.”

While Southampton fans would surely prefer to keep van Dijk – as long as he is able to concentrate on matters out on the pitch – they will also be aware that keeping an unhappy player makes little sense if it is going to have an impact on his form.

And regardless of the outcome, they would surely prefer that a resolution is reached as soon as possible so Pellegrino can get on with making plans depending on where van Dijk is playing during the coming season.