Virgil van Dijk will sit down with Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino to try and force a move to Liverpool.
Van Dijk has already made it clear to Pellegrino that he wants to join the Reds, but the Saints have said the defender is not for sale and have told him he will have to train on his own until he accepts that.
Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino.
The 26-year-old was left at home while the club went on a pre-season tour of France and according to the Daily Echo the Hampshire side are confident the Dutchman will have now had time to accept he is not leaving St Mary’s and will be reintegrated back into the first team squad.
With the Daily Mail claiming the Merseysiders would not make an approach for Van Dijk until given the green light by Southampton after having to make a public apology in June when they were reported to the Premier League for alleged tapping up, it is now up to the player himself to force a move.
Liverpool themselves are prepared to sanction a club record £60m offer for the centre-back, who is under contract on the south coast until 2022.
Whatever happens Van Dijk is not expected to start the season for the Saints having not played competitively since suffering an ankle injury in January, with Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida set to play in central defence for the opening day fixture against Swansea City on August 12.
Virgil van Dijk of Southampton.
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