VIRGIL VAN DIJK is paying no attention to the ongoing rumours linking him with Liverpool, with his focus locked on life at Southampton.
The Dutch defender spent much of the summer embroiled in seemingly endless rounds of speculation regarding his future.
A big-money move to Anfield was mooted for long periods, despite Liverpool being forced to distance themselves from the reports at one stage after being accused of an illegal approach.
The deadline eventually passed with no deal being done and Van Dijk insists that he is now “100%” committed to the Saints.
He told the Daily Star: “Firstly, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on anything that happened before.
“But I am giving 100% for the club. I work hard every day, I help my team-mates, I’m positive and I want to win every game.
“I am happy and that’s the most important thing so we will just see what happens.”
While “happy” at present, Van Dijk has stopped short of ruling out a future move.
Liverpool have continued to see their defensive frailties highlighted after failing to add over the summer and are considered to still be in need of reinforcements.
That could see interest in Van Dijk rekindled, possibly when the transfer window re-opens in January, however, Southampton have shown that they will not be forced into parting with another top talent.
They have seen the likes of Adam Lallana, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Sadio Mane lured away to Merseyside in recent times.
Van Dijk could be the next to tread that path, but the 26-year-old will not come cheap having signed a six-year contract with the Saints in May 2016 to push his valuation above the £50 million mark.
Even if Liverpool pay way of the top for him, which they will if they try again it still does not fix the worst defense/keepers in the whole of the Premier League.
You can put lipstick on a pig but its still a pig
@Whatshisname: it’s a start
@Whatshisname: It would be a good start but goalkeeper needs to go and a holding midfielder in the mould of Didi Hamann or Maschereno needed.
@Stephen Kilbane: what’s happened to clyne? No word of him whatsoever.
@Paul Mallon: having some off field problems for awhile I’ve been hearing
What a signing this lad will be. BEAST