Saint Albert

Might explain the vested interest comment. My summary of recent developments: The gutter-dwelling, Liverpool-boosting red tops reported on the comments of a Twitter user who writes under a false name. This anonymous Twitterer claimed VVD talks were back on, based on info obtained from someone not employed by either club, who has a vested interest in the talks commencing. Meanwhile a journalist who writes both for Yahoo Sports and the Irish Independent while using his real name claims talks are not on, based on information obtained from inside Southampton Football Club. One seems a smidgeon more reliable than the other.

"Vanderkamp" has resurfaced and made a statement: https://mobile.twitter.com/DanVanderkamp/status/886199487122874368

I should have read this first (posted on VVD thread). The club's trying to get ahead of the curve on the rumours by explaining his absence: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/15412951.Van_Dijk_will_not_be_involved_for_Saints_as_they_start_pre_season_fixtures/?ref=rss

This line up will fire up the Liverpool supporters again, but I'm assuming that he isn't far enough along in his post-injury fitness plans to play yet?

Bad example: he ran his contract down and wanted to play for Poch again. They declined to sell him to Spurs when he had 2 years left on his contract and was throwing his toys out of the pram, but with one year left Saints were left with the alternatives of dealing with the devil, or seeing Wanyama go for free next season.

I have a theory that Saints refuse to deal with Levy because of all the nonsense he's pulled in the past. I maintain it mainly because it makes me happy.

This works for me. Kevin Palmer has been claiming consistently that he has a source inside the club - he's done a few stories on the VVD situation this summer.

Swansea suggesting that Everton have tapped up Sigurdsson: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/14/swansea-everton-gylfi-sigurdsson-question-tapping-up

Telegraph are reporting it as an "exclusive ": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/07/13/manchester-city-verge-signing-tottenhams-kyle-walker-deal-could/

A few British newspapers have picked up on a report from Il Messaggero in Italy, which claims that Liverpool are in "secret" talks with Lazio to sign de Vrij.

The article states: That seems more than a little naughty to me. What a lovely football club.

Exactly. Both the club and VVD have had lots of opportunity to deny he wants to leave, but all we have is statements through the media that they don't want to sell (especially to Liverpool) and VVD's passive-aggressive behaviour on Twitter. He wants to go to a bigger club, potentially with Champions League football this season, who will pay him an irrationally high wage to go there. His desire to leave does not make me happy, but it is understandable. I'd probably try to do something similar if I was in his position. I have to say, though that his and his agent's reported attempts to forgo any option other than Liverpool, really gets on my tits. It leaves Saints in an awfully difficult position. It was probably designed to do just that. I hope that Les, Ralph et al stand their ground. His value won't change significantly given the length of the contract that he signed so recently. VVD will probably get over it at some point in September, and keep his head down - until the next transfer window opens.

The Spanish press are reporting that Saints are one of several clubs interested in Barcelona player Munir el Haddadi, who is available for €10M: http://sportwitness.co.uk/west-ham-southampton-crystal-palace-prepared-pay-e8-10m-player/

I would be very happy to see Stephens partnering VVD at the centre of the defence. Stephens was one of the bright spots from last season.

It's even made the news in the Liverpool Echo. Must be a slow news day: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/virgil-van-dijk-flies-out-13309001

Swansea want £50M for Sigurdsson, and rejected a £40M offer from Leicester, according to the BBC. Also, he's settled and not pushing for a move. http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40550188

Liverpool opted for "Strategy B" instead, which was to ward off all other interested clubs by planting all of that nonsense in the media last June. It was probably designed to bring his asking price down, but resulted in one ginormous cock up instead.

I was pretty much in the "let's try and keep him for one more year" camp last season. I think that Liverpool's behaviour has hardened a few attitudes on here, including mine. It may have increased the club's resolve.

British journalism at its finest. If this story is true (a big assumption) and he will only consent to moving to Liverpool, then he should expect to play the next season at Southampton.

Has Virgil's agent ranted about birthday cakes yet?

Here's the Telegraph's "exclusive" on this. Sounds like Chelsea are trying to paint the player's agent into a corner... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/07/07/chelsea-match-manchester-uniteds-offer-romelu-lukaku-leaving/

After last summer, I have to say the deluded, arrogant, dugout pioneering, glass-ceiling smashing, gob-smackingly irritating Everton fans are worse.

RIP young man, after a long, painful, brave struggle. I can't imagine what the poor lad's parents are going through.

This is really winding up the Liverpool supporters, to the point that their Echo has published a denial: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/everton-virgil-van-dijk-southampton-13298043

This is what I want most, both as a partner for Romeu and as insurance in case he can't play. More than a few times last season, I worried about what would happen to the team if Romeu sustained a long term injury.