The circus surrounding Virgil van Dijk continues as the Southampton defender’s future hangs in the balance.

Manager Mauricio Pellegrino left the Dutchman out of his squad for a recent pre-season trip to France, but it is still unclear what will transpire with regards to a possible transfer.

Sky Sports recently claimed that the player expects to join Liverpool before the transfer window slams shut at the end of August.

This is despite the Merseyside club publicly withdrawing their interest and apologising to the Saints after being accused of tapping up Van Dijk.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City have also been touted as potential suitors, but one thing is for sure, the defender wants to call time on his two-year spell at St Mary’s.

The Guardian reported that Van Dijk has effectively gone on strike in order to force through a move, and that is not sitting well with the club’s former manager Nigel Adkins.

The 52-year-old, who coached the Saints between 2010 and 2013, believes that footballers nowadays have too much power when it comes to contracts.

He told Sky Sports:

"We've got a situation in football where it's too easy for a player to say 'I am unhappy’. Well, the player was not unhappy when he signed a contract not so long ago. He has to be respectful of that contract as well and if business gets done, get it done privately and done behind the scenes. If Van Dijk does go, Southampton will get the asking price, which seems very expensive at this point in time.”

https://video.footballfancast.com/video-2015/PL25(94-95).mp4