Southampton star Virgil van Dijk set to leave St Mary’s after series of rows with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all interested
The 26-year-old centre back is valued at £60million by the Saints, and is desperately seeking a move away from St Mary's
VIRGIL VAN DIJK has pleaded with Southampton to let him leave this week during a series of rows.
The Dutch centre-back wants a move before Thursday’s transfer deadline, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal interested in a £60million move.
And he has backed up his transfer request by begging club officials face-to-face to let him go.
The discussions at Saints’ Staplewood training HQ have involved the 26-year-old furiously putting his point of view across, according to sources at the club.
The ex-Celtic defender has trained away from Mauricio Pellegrino’s first-team squad during the transfer stand-off.
Van Dijk is desperate to impress at a big club in the season before the World Cup.
Despite standing to make a massive profit on the £11.5m paid two years ago, Saints chairman Ralph Krueger has insisted Van Dijk is not for sale.
He has thrived at St Mary's since leaving Scotland in 2015, and was appointed as club captain after Jose Fonte left to jon West Ham back in January.
Despite only 55 Premier League appearances, he established himself as one of the top defender's in the English top-flight.
A fully fledged Dutch international with 12 caps to his name, van Dijk will be hoping for regular football in order to be selected in Dick Advocaat's World Cup squad.
He hasn't featured for the south coast side at all this campaign, as he pushes for a move away.