According to an interview he has done with Netherlands media outlet Fox Sports in his homeland, via Sky Sports, Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has once again suggested that he would like to leave the club during the January transfer window.
The centre-back failed to secure the move away from the south coast that he wanted during the summer when Saints refused to sell despite the fact that he handed in a transfer request, and he made his first start for the club in more than eight months against Stoke City on Saturday following a long injury lay-off and having to train with the Under-23 side.
Van Dijk said: “I’m not sorry for anything. Of course, I wanted to make a step up, but Southampton did not want me to sell me, but you’re a professional, so now I’ll give everything to the club.
“Halfway through the season, maybe we can see what’s possible.”
The latest quotes certainly won’t go down well with the fans, Les Reed or chairman Ralph Krueger, who all would have been angered with how the 26-year-old has acted in recent months.
Here are three reasons Southampton should cash in on Van Dijk in January…
Enough is enough
Knowing that his statement and transfer request during the summer would have angered many people associated with Southampton, as well as the fact that he made his proper first team comeback on Saturday, you would have thought that Van Dijk would have made the decision to keep quiet on his obvious intentions to leave until the New Year.
However, his latest comments may only worsen his already strained relationship with the supporters, and the complete lack of disregard he has shown for the club that gave him his chance in the Premier League should mean that the hierarchy show him the door in January, in order to give an opportunity to a player that wants to represent them.
They can cope without him
The performances of Jack Stephens and Maya Yoshida in the second half of last season and already this term, as well as the summer addition of Wesley Hoedt from Lazio, mean that Southampton now have some decent options in the centre-back position.
Hoedt already looks to be strong in the air and good with the ball at his feet in the early stages of his career at St Mary’s, and Saints look as though they would be able to cope with Van Dijk’s exit in the New Year without having to do major surgery to their backline.
They can strengthen their squad
Despite not selling him during the summer transfer window, Southampton will still probably look to achieve a fee of around £60m for Van Dijk should they choose to cash in on him during the January transfer window.
If they were able to get that much money – or possibly even more – it would allow them to bring in three or four players that could strengthen what has become an average Premier League team in certain positions.
Some areas on the pitch that they are particularly lacking in is out wide and up top, where they are still yet to replace Graziano Pelle, and finding a strong and powerful centre-forward looks to be something that should be a priority if Mauricio Pellegrino wants to persist with the 4-2-3-1 formation going forward.
Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.
