£60m-rated Target Left Out Of Preseason Squad Amid Liverpool Interest

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has been left out of the club’s preseason tour to Evian-les-Bains as speculation over his future continues to grow.

The 25-year-old has told the Saints about his decision to leave the club this summer with reports of serious interest from Liverpool who will have to wait for Southampton to sanction a deal after the club threatened legal action for their actions earlier this summer.

Reports in Dutch news outlet De Telegraaf have claimed that Van Dijk has set his sights on joining Liverpool after the Mersey side offered to increase his wages from £35,000 to £140,000-a-week.

However, Southampton are understood to be holding out for a bid in the region of £60 million before talks can begin for the defender who has been an integral part of their squad since he joined them from Celtic.

Arsenal and Manchester City have also been credited with interest in the Dutch defender but Liverpool seems to be the serious contenders to sign the player.

It is understood that Jurgen Klopp might make a big offer for Van Dijk after resigning to the idea of not selling Naby Keita from RB Leipzig despite making a bid believed to be around £70 million for the midfielder.