Southampton Chairman Ralph Krueger has again reiterated that Virgil Van Dijk will not be sold in this transfer window.
Ralph Krueger has clearly stated that the club will not sell Virgil Van Dijk this summer, but that the player will be welcomed back with open arms when he has accepted that fact.
Van Dijk has been one of a number of supposed big stars this summer who have decided that contracts mean nothing to them and that they owe nothing to their clubs in terms of loyalty even when they have only recently signed long term deals.
Most who are stirred up by their agents who are only interested in the biggest cash offer, seem unable to grasp reality and think they are above the laws of the land let alone football.
But the clubs are fighting back and Ralph Krueger has made sure that no one is in any doubt where Saints stand. Indeed they are looking to add to the squad before the transfer window ends and not sell the best players.
Speaking to the Daily Echo Krueger said.
"Our stance remains based on our strategy from May when we spoke last.
"I already told you the numbers that we have transferred in and transferred out and it is time to stop that.
"We really thought this was a good summer for that. Strength of the contracts, age of the group and the experiences of last year like going to a cup final gave us the feeling this is a group that tasted that winning and keeping them together would give us the chance to reach another level."
"Virgil is not the only player that is involved in this he is part of the whole strategy of not selling. Nobody is for sale that we don't want to sell and so he is not for sale in this window. We have said it more than once."
"We are not done with the window yet. We are still looking at some options. I am not going to promise anything. It has got to be something that truly strengthens the squad and fits into our group."
"We are still looking and at the end of the transfer window we will see who we have and what we have.
"Mauricio has done an amazing job of dealing with this situation. It has not disrupted our team. It is not in any way caused a lack of focus in training, in the locker room, and of course everybody will open their arms when Virgil comes back and we go at it.”
Krueger was asked whether Saints would even turn down a ludicrous offer if one came in and replied:
"I will tell you one thing - over the years we have spoken I don't give definite answers where there isn't a definite."
"With all the knowledge I have today and all the information I have on my plate right now my answer is we are carrying our strategy through the summer and that's it. "
This is the sort of statement Saints fans want to hear, they want to see the club led from the front and although most appreciate that things have to be kept in house at times, the supporters do need to know that the situation is in hand.
Krueger has a reputation for being a man who sticks to his guns and doesn't make brash statements, he know the Van Dijk situation is delicate and whilst it must be tempting to come out with all guns blazing, he knows that when the window shuts there has to be some bridge building done between the player, the club and indeed the fans.