Van Djik Certain to leave Southampton

Jamie Redknapp believes Southampton center defender Virgil Van Djik is certain to exit after he officially handed transfer request on Monday.

The Netherlands defender was target for Liverpool before Southampton complained to Premier League about the illegal approach from the merseyside club. Liverpool seemed to backed off and apologized , however they are still interested in bringing the defender.

Although Klopp said that he is happy with his defending options, the Liverpool boss could still look out for the options knowing that their summer target has handed a transfer request.

Chelsea are also interested in bringing the defender as they have made inquiries about the defender. However Southampton are firm on their situation and they look to keep hold on their main despite his approach.

Meanwhile Jamie Redknapp believes Djik may not play for Southampton again.”He goes, it’s an absolute certainty,” Redknapp told The Debate – Live. “He won’t play for Southampton again.

“He has put in a transfer request and I think that probably suits Southampton. Let’s be honest, I was there for a short time, Southampton are a selling club. If you have any ambition to be a top player you leave Southampton.

“Victor Wanyama, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, everybody else has gone. They paid £13m to Celtic for Van Dijk and they will get close to £60m, they will get a fortune for him.

“I don’t blame Virgil one bit. This is what happens in football. He will already know how much he could get at Liverpool, how much he could get at Chelsea, this is what happens in football.

“He has probably already spoken to the managers. He could probably earn three or four times his Southampton money at Liverpool or Chelsea, so why wouldn’t you want to go and play for a better club?

“I’m sure Southampton fans will say, ‘That’s out of order’, but if anyone received an offer to go to a better job, you take it. You’re ambitious.

“Southampton cannot really complain. They have always sold their best players and now they are about to sell another one. They should be happy they can reinvest or bring another player through the academy.

“The last thing you want is a rotten apple in the dressing room, especially with a new manager. He does not want Van Dijk causing problems.

“Pellegrino wants to know who’s on board and who wants to play for him so the quicker they resolve this issue, the quicker they can get a couple of players in.

“I don’t see any way Virgil van Dijk is a Southampton player once this window closes.”

 

Redknapp believes that Virgil van Djik is more likely to join Liverpool than Chelsea.