Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk is being tracked by the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City.
Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk is being targeted by the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City
A report in the Daily Mirror has suggested that Southampton plan to hold out for a staggering £70 million fee before they allow Virgil van Dijk to leave St Mary’s this summer.
Van Dijk has been a colossus at the back for the Saints since his arrival from Celtic in 2015, establishing himself as arguably the best centre-back outside of the top six within the Premier League.
van Dijk has been a revelation for Saints
Unsurprisingly therefore, Southampton are determined to keep hold of the Netherlands international, but they appear to face an uphill battle in doing that with the Mirror reporting that Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool all have their eye on the 25-year-old.
But, seemingly in an attempt to try and prevent any bids coming their way that may see the defender’s head turned, the Mirror suggests that Southampton are set to demand £70 million before they allow the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal to lure him away.
Southampton will demand £70 million for the defender
While the Mirror insists that van Dijk – who only signed a six-year deal on the south coast last summer – has made no attempts to force through a move from his current club, it would surely be a major statement of intent from the Saints if they could keep van Dijk away from the Gunners, the Reds and the other teams interested in pursuing a move.
Southampton have struggled to keep their best players in recent years, so getting van Dijk to stick around would send out a message that they are not that club anymore and are capable of building on the foundations they have seemingly had to lay on numerous occasions in recent years.
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