Liverpool target ordered train away from Southampton first team

Southampton head coach Mauricio Pellegrino has ordered centre-back Virgil van Dijk to train away from the first team after telling the club he wants to quit this summer, reports the Daily Echo. 

Van Dijk has been subject to intense speculation surrounding his future and is keen on a move to Liverpool this summer. 

The Reds were closing in on his signature earlier in the year, but u-turned on their interest after Saints threatened to report the Merseyside outfit for tapping up the centre-back. 

Liverpool remain keen on Van Dijk, as do Chelsea and Manchester City after both teams missed out on Leonardo Bonucci, who spectacularly swapped Juventus for AC Milan. 

“The boy said that he is not available to play because he wants to leave. This is the decision," said Pellegrino.

“I had to say 'if you don’t want to be involved because you don’t feel OK then you have to train alone until this period of time happens'.”  

The newly appointed Southampton boss added: “My relationship with Virgil is excellent. I was clear with the boy, and I was talking from the first day with him.  

“The club was clear. The club told me they will not sell Virgil.  

“I translated the idea of the club to the player and for me it was easy because I had to manage the dynamic of the team.  

“Now he is not involved with the team because psychologically he is not 100 per cent. If you are not 100 per cent with the team I need to work with the players who are 1000 per cent to defend Southampton. It’s easy for me.”