Club Chief Dashes Chelsea, Liverpool’s Hopes On Potential Target

Southampton executive director Les Reed has cleared the air concerning the future of Virgil Van Dijk, insisting he is not for sale in January.

The Dutch defender has been a subject of transfer speculations and linked to a host of top clubs following his impressive form for the Saints since he arrived from Celtic.

Reports suggested Chelsea were plotting an audacious move for the solid defender while Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho tried to sign him last summer but was pegged back due to financial regulations rules. Liverpool are also believed to be monitoring his situation as Jurgen Klopp hope to solve his defensive frailties.

However, Les Reed has dashed their hopes with his latest revelation about the 25-year-old, claiming he will remain at St Mary’s stadium for the rest of the season.

He told the Southampton Echo: ‘Virgil is not for sale.

‘We haven’t had any bids and if we got any bids we wouldn’t consider them because it just doesn’t make sense to think we would release him in mid-season when we have still got, we believe, all to play for.

‘There haven’t been any enquiries but certainly the status of him at the moment is that he is simply not for sale.’

Van dijk has been a solid figure in Southampton this season, putting up composed defensive displays for his side.