The Virgil Van Dijk Stays at Southampton Thread

It is easy this proposing to throw away other people's money isn't it.

 

I am a man of principle *

*when it's not my money

 

Virgil will still be worth money next summer....paying his wages is an investment in our future respect.

Pour encourager les autres (Voltaire).

 

Perhaps Les should look at upgrading Virgil's insurance....just in case he has an accident. Perhaps being run over by a.....Kia (for the sake of argument).

 

They really should have a clause in the contract that says if the player refuses to play/train, after one week the club is only liable to pay 10% of the stated wage.

 

Also why it's difficult to keep him away from the training ground, he'll be entitled to the same training facilities as the rest of the players. However despite the dishonesty of saying he wants to go, but refusing to place a transfer request he will be in breach of contract if he refuses to play or train. That's the key.

He should be named in the next u23 match asap. After months away with injury he can't moan if we gently re-introduce him to competitive footy, in his own interest. The u23 players would need careful management for this, though I suspect most would think he's just a prat.

 

I suspect the players will be watching this with interest...reading their contracts carefully. Some will sympathise, whilst others will be thinking that they'd have liked his contract. Mustn't forget that most will be his friends...unless he is a complete prat (and we have no proof of that).

 

Mr thicky here may have missed something but I'm not sure he has. He wants to leave but doesn't want the hand in a transfer request.

If the club wish to stand firm the only thing they can do is call his bluff by playing him. Ball then firmly in Mr 'Loyalty Bonus' court.

 

Wow the guy is a prick. He and Liverpool deserve each other, but don't make it happen Les.

 

From what I believe is that if he puts in a transfer request he will loose about a £18m loyalty bonus (Saints pay the remainder of his contract) if he moves. Strange that he doesn't feel sufficiently upset to loose that and Liverpool don't want to cover that additional cost

 

If true, it would then be cheaper to keep him and let the twat sulk.

 

As Margaret Thatcher told President Bush: Now is not the time to go wobbly.

 

Which is the only (very slight) danger for him.
Lower the emotionally charged situation Les. Take very great care that all of Saints actions are seen as reasonable, after all Saints have a duty of care towards ALL their staff. No further statements issued to the press. Rotate his traning times to isolate VVD as far as possible without giving grounds for a grievance. Offer him games away from the 1st team. Let time pass and the press/scousers will fix their short attention spans elsewhere. In a month's time he and his agent will be at handbags with each other.

I can dream, 'Pool player by the weekend then

 

Tom28 from Saintsweb (don't know whether or not to believe him but might as well post it):

Only additional information I have is that there are no bids yet. However, club looking to sell now. He's become a problem in what is otherwise a very happy squad. Other players that were unhappy and looking for an exit last season - Tadic, Cedric and Bertrand - are all now seemingly bought into MP 100%. VVD is casting a lonely figure after thinking that there were lots that wanted to leave this summer. Difficult to see a way back from here although club will hold out for asking price. MP and VVD relationship is pretty good so there potentially could be a way back if asking price not met before the end of the window. Club will likely buy a replacement now anyway though.

 

No bids because Liverpool was the only serious one and they are holding out for a party invitation with a balloon. Offers may come in if the word is spread. Anyone but Liverpool, please.....even if we take a hit.

 

Agree. Just want him gone now for decent money which we use to further improve a fresh happy squad. Anyone but Liverpool. Even could stomach Everton with the squirm of Koeman getting him being outweighed by the pleasure I would take from the red scouse fury - exploding shell suits in all directions!

 

I'm sure he'll decide to play again at some point in the next 5 years.

 

Always suspicious of "ITK" who release that amount of info. I know he has been right about other things but all that he has just said is what most Saints fans already know...

 

Yeah there is no way that is true. If we sell a player we don't have to pay out the remainder of his contract

 

Yeah, people keep suggesting that, but it's not that you pay out all of their wages. You only pay out their loyalty bonus, which is just an annual sum in addition to wages...in Virgil's case, it might be 5m total, if that. But if they put in a transfer request, they are no longer entitled to that payout.