Liverpool legend Aldridge: van Dijk could hold Southampton to ransom

It’s a transfer saga that looks set to rumble on all summer, but Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk is the one in control of his own future according to Liverpool legend John Aldridge.

Many expect the Dutch centre-back to be a Liverpool player come next season, but for now he is still a part of Southampton’s books, as the managerless side look to keep hold of their key assets.

The likes of Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Rickie Lambert have all made the move from St Mary’s to Anfield in recent years, though Van Dijk is just one campaign in to a new six-year contract with the Saints.

However, Aldridge – who scored 50 times in 83 appearances for Liverpool – believes the 25-year-old could hold his current club to ransom in his desires to further his career, after the Reds were forced to apologise for an approach earlier this summer.

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“Tapping up goes on all the time in the game and even if Liverpool went a bit far in their pursuit of Van Dijk before they spoke to Southampton, I don’t believe this transfer story is dead in the water,” Aldridge said.

“Van Dijk needs to make the next move and I reckon he will tell Southampton that he wants out and he wants to go to Liverpool.

“Players and their agents hold all the power these days and if he says he won’t kick another ball for Southampton and demands a move, it will happen.

“Let’s look at the facts here: Southampton paid £13m for this guy a couple of years ago and they could end up making a profit of around £40m on him.

“I believe Celtic have a sell-on clause in the contract that will give them a handy sum of cash, but Southampton will be in the money and the cash they get from selling Van Dijk could give their new manager a massive transfer kitty to work with.”