Although he’s cutting a slightly different tone these days after agitating for a move away from Southampton throughout the summer, Saints defender Virgil van Dijk continues to the leave the door open for an exit from the South Coast club despite admitting that he’s happy again at St. Mary’s Stadium.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on anything that happened before,” the Dutch defender told the Daily Echo when asked about his attempts to engineer a transfer away during the summer. “I’m giving 100 per cent for the club, I work hard every day, I help my team-mates and I’m positive and I want to win every game,” explained van Dijk, before throwing in the caveat. “That’s the situation right now…I’m happy and that’s the most important thing. We’ll see what happens.”
Liverpool, who remain interested in bringing the 26-year old to Anfield, will almost certainly be reviving their interest when the transfer window re-opens in January, but they won’t be the only side interested in securing his signature. With his desire to play Champions League football as strong as ever, whether or not the Reds are still in the competition when the Group Stage ends could play a key part — as could their spot in the table and their prospects of playing in Europe again next season.
That, of course, could also have an effect on whether or not contract rebel Emre Can decides to sign a new deal with the club. The German midfielder, who has been holding out on putting pen to paper since the end of last season, is in the final year of his contract could open negotiations with foreign clubs in January. Italian giants Juventus, who had a number of offers for his services rejected during the summer, remain the front-runners for his signature should he decide to up stakes and leave, but the Old Lady won’t be putting cash on the table this winter with the prospect of getting him for free at the end of the campaign still on the table.
“We will not sign anybody in January,” Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta told Italian media outlet Rai 2, putting rumours of an immediate move for Can to bed. “We are currently achieving our objectives in the Champions League, where we have a hard group.”
