Virgil van Dijk has handed in a transfer request at Southampton and criticised the club's attitude towards his determination to leave.
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...an-dijk-hands-in-southampton-transfer-request
The 26-year-old Netherlands centre-back feels he has "no alternative" after becoming "frustrated" with Saints' position that he is not for sale, and says his relationship with the club has become "seriously affected".
Liverpool heavily pursued a deal for Van Dijk at the start of the summer transfer window but were forced to drop their interest after Southampton reported them to the Premier League for an alleged illegal approach.
Chelsea and Man City are also understood to be interested in the defender, who signed a new long-term contract last year, but Sky sources understand Saints' are unlikely to change their position despite the following statement issued by his management company.
Van Dijk said: "It is with regret that I can confirm that I have today handed in a transfer request to leave Southampton.
"Unfortunately I feel I have no alternative after I was given notice of the club's intention to impose a disciplinary sanction against me of a fine equivalent to two weeks' wages. I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course.
"Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
"I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer. I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours and, as such, I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.
"I have been left frustrated by the club's position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed. The period of time that I have just spent injured and unable to play has put a number of things into perspective and made me realise just how important it is to take major opportunities should they arise.
What an absolute C*nt!
http://www.skysports.com/football/n...an-dijk-hands-in-southampton-transfer-request
The 26-year-old Netherlands centre-back feels he has "no alternative" after becoming "frustrated" with Saints' position that he is not for sale, and says his relationship with the club has become "seriously affected".
Liverpool heavily pursued a deal for Van Dijk at the start of the summer transfer window but were forced to drop their interest after Southampton reported them to the Premier League for an alleged illegal approach.
Chelsea and Man City are also understood to be interested in the defender, who signed a new long-term contract last year, but Sky sources understand Saints' are unlikely to change their position despite the following statement issued by his management company.
Van Dijk said: "It is with regret that I can confirm that I have today handed in a transfer request to leave Southampton.
"Unfortunately I feel I have no alternative after I was given notice of the club's intention to impose a disciplinary sanction against me of a fine equivalent to two weeks' wages. I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course.
"Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
"I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer. I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours and, as such, I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.
"I have been left frustrated by the club's position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed. The period of time that I have just spent injured and unable to play has put a number of things into perspective and made me realise just how important it is to take major opportunities should they arise.
What an absolute C*nt!
