If you read the media yesterday it was claiming that Virgil Van Dijk had pledged his future to Liverpool, today it's a different story.

Liverpool were in pole position to sign Virgil Van Dijk according to yesterdays media with the Dutchman reportedly keen to play for Jurgen Klopp, this morning's press though has a different story about how Liverpool are now concerned that Manchester City have blown them out of the water with a deal purported to be £50 million plus £180k a week for the player.

But even City are worried that they are going to be caught up in a bidding war, perhaps Liverpool won't match what they are prepared to offer, but certainly Chelsea will and perhaps one other Premier League club and that could push the price up to an amazing figure.

The word coming out of St Mary's is that the figure will not just have to be amazing it will have to be "Eye Watering" what the media have failed to grasp is that with 5 years still left on his contract signed last summer, Saints are under no pressure to sell whilst this sort of money is on the table.

Saints are doing their own PR work and they are putting it out to the press that they are not resigned to losing Van Dijk and that if club's are willing to pay £50 million now, then that value could double in a years time.

The feeling is that Van Dijk himself is a reasonable player and that he will be happy to give Saints another year before moving on, of course the player will be being tempted by big pay offers from the likes of City, but Saints are seemingly going to hold firm unless they get an offer that they simply cannot turn down.

Although some would claim that the club rolls over too easily when offered money for players, it should be noted that both Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama agitated for transfers and were told that the club was not going to sell them and they had to stay another year, if a player has a long term left on his contract then Saints are quite capable of standing firm.

Ralph Krueger said recently that a few years ago the club were caught on the hop with players on flimsy deals that meant the club had to cash in at a time that didn't suit them, but now three years later all of the squad are now on longer and more robust contracts and the club are in the driving seat as to when and whether a player will be sold .

“We do not need to sell any players.

“Whether the ownership changes or not it is not going to change our strategic position.

“We have the backing of Katharina and/or any potential change which we as a management team feel extremely comfortable with.

“We have a strategy which is being fine-tuned but the base is in place.

“We are pre-positioned for the transfer window and we do not have to sell any player. That will be our decision and whether it is in the best interests of the club or not.”

Photo: Action Images

ThereIn76 added 12:37 - Jun 1 If he has a good season for us next year and then a good World Cup for NL, even an eye-watering offer won't come close.
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bstokesaint added 12:38 - Jun 1 I think you’ve definitely covered the main points raised by RK recently Nick. It’s a very difficult time for the club. We’ve come out and said “we no longer need to sell, for the first time,” but then if you’re offered £60m, £70m, £100m or whatever “eye watering” amount it does start making you think of the kind of players we might be able to tempt with that money. My only reservation with this is in recent seasons our big money signings have been very questionable; Osvaldo, Ramirez, Boufal, Hojbjerg. Personally I hope VVD stays, but the club will no doubt be in right in the spotlight over this one.

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bstokesaint added 13:30 - Jun 1 It's probably worth noting too that it'll be quite humbling for Liverpool if VVD does go and Man C come out on top. Previously they've always seem to be the ones who control the sales, but if they do get outbid it might make them less confident of prizing away our jewels going forward, as even they have a ceiling.
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LordDZLucan added 13:50 - Jun 1 I hope he doesn't go as he's our best player. But if he does go I want to see every penny that we get for him spent BEFORE he leaves.
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Sanguin added 15:22 - Jun 1 I’d like to see him play at least another a year with us. I think the club is right that he will still be worth that much and maybe more next summer so with his contract there is no rush. But as others have said, if the offer rises to 60 or 70million then you do start to think about the number of additional quality players that could be signed for that money. Given our track record, I have a lot of faith in the club to make a good decision here.

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REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 17:47 - Jun 1 I think there could easily be a bidding war for Van Dyke this summer. Chelsea, City and Liverpool have all been interested for a while and have money to burn. United need a top class centre back and I can also see a European giant like Barcelona or Bayern Munich getting involved. World class centre backs seem to be at a premium nowadays. The fee could get into the region of £80m at which point Saints have to take the money. It would be too much to turn down. It will be a miracle if Van Dyke is still a Saints player on 2nd September.

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sidsaint added 19:31 - Jun 1 According to one paper he could be on £180k per week at City, £10k more than Chelsea have offered and a lot more than Liverpool. Difficult to hold on to someone when that sort of wages is on the table.
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SanMarco added 21:45 - Jun 1 If it really is 'eye-watering' then we will have to say yes. People like me will moan but we will know that it had to happen. This will only apply if it really is 'eye-watering'. My perception of that is quite a few million MORE than the 50 being talked about at the moment. 80 sounds good...
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SaintBrock added 16:30 - Jun 2 Is he really that good? Don't believe all the hype being churned at he moment. Nobody was in the queue behind us when he left Celtic
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