Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea remain interested in Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk despite failing to land him in the summer, according to The Telegraph.
What’s the word?
The Dutch centre-back made it publicly clear that he wanted to leave the Saints last month.
However, the club did not back down and managed to keep hold of the 26-year-old, who has not played since January due to an ankle injury.
Van Dijk missed the majority of pre-season and has not featured at all in Southampton’s first four games of the campaign.
There is an indication that the defender is being reintegrated into the first team after he took part in training earlier this week.
However, it seems that it will not be smooth sailing throughout the season amid claims by The Telegraph that Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea have not given up hope of signing him.
Clubs will be free to do business once again when the transfer window reopens in January.
Will Van Dijk finish the season at St Mary’s?
The Telegraph reports that Southampton intend to keep the defender until at least next summer, which suggests that suitors will struggle once again to land his signature in the winter.
The South-Coast club have shown that they can stand firm when needed, which has come at a good time considering that in previous windows they allowed a handful of their best players to leave.
When January rolls around, a lot will depend on Van Dijk’s mindset and how it is affecting the dressing room.
If the Dutchman has a turnaround and feels settled again at the club then the Saints will have a better chance of keeping hold of him.
However, if the former Celtic star still harbours a desire to move on, Southampton face a potential problem.