Jimmy_D

Sounds like Liverpool's representatives have contacted VvD's representatives to tap him up and agree a deal. Think all of this is coming from Liverpool leaking it, including the £60M fee. No indication as of yet that Saints themselves are settling for anything less than the £70M asking price we've put on him. With 5 years left on his contract, we can afford to hold out for it too, pull a Schneiderlin/Wanyama on him if we need to. That could change if VvD decides to pull a Lovren/Lallana on us.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/15319368.Saints_will_fight_for_van_Dijk/ Aaand another one. Feels like a Saints have been talking to the press themselves to offset some of the Liverpool/Chelsea/Man City planted stories.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/10900569/man-city-fear-chelsea-and-liverpool-will-drive-price-up-for-virgil-van-dijk Narrative has definitely subtly changed away from 'done deal' in the last couple of days. Means at least the press are considering the possibility he'll be here next season and want to avoid making themselves look completely daft. Could (probably?) be wrong now, and could obviously change as well, but my gut feeling is we'll be watching him in a Saints shirt for next season at least.

I'd seen quotes about us being able to turn down offers before. This is the first one I've personally seen that's just flat out quoting us as him not going anywhere. True that it doesn't mean much though.

I hope that Mirror article is as accurate and well informed as speculated. First time I've seen an article quoting Saints stating that VvD isn't for sale and won't be leaving.

Played well, probably deserved to win, point is decent but feels like it should have been more, especially with their keeper being MotM.

Unfortunately not. The Premier League gets an extra Champions League spot and one less Europa League spot in the case that someone outside the top four wins the Europa League.

I personally think he'll be here at least for next season, much the same as Wanyama and Schneiderlin. With five years left on his contract we really can call the shots, it's an option for us to decide he's more important to the club than the money, and it'd be more than half a decade from now before any other club could do a damn thing about it. The club will probably have a few people asking for refunds if he does go, considering the wording and him literally being front and centre of our advertising for season tickets, on top of the manager specifically saying he'll be here next season.

Good result!

About time he saved one! Bloody good save too.

I have no problem whatsoever with Puel deploying these tactics, it's worked against Liverpool 3 times so far this season and gives us the best chance of winning.

Looked like that corner went out of play?

Costa should have been booked for diving there.

I remember at the time wondering if supporting another team would ever feel the same. It'd have been either Eastleigh or Sholing, anything else wouldn't have had any chance of feeling 'right', but it still wouldn't have been Saints. Thankfully it never came to that, and what's happened since has been nothing short of absolutely incredible.

I guess climbing on defenders is allowed now... Regardless Forster will be disappointed with that.

Bloody good win that, especially considering the players we have out injured. Between Stephens, Clasie and Forster for MotM for me today.

Bloody good win that.

Really good first half, need to be ready for West Brom getting a rocket at half time, but looking good so far.

Gerrin!

'Meh' just about sums that up. Could have had a couple of penalties, their penalty was soft to say the least, our finishing could have been better, so could theirs. Ref's performance wasn't good but we've seen so many bad ones this season it's almost not worth mentioning. Draw probably just about fair but would expect us to do better than that normally. At least we've kept our unbeaten home record going against them.

Long wasn't offside every time. He was playing the percentages knowing he'd have a clear run when he managed to time it right. It would have worked, too, if the lino had been able to do his job properly.

Played ourselves right into it, officials the difference in the end. Draw would have been a more than fair result.

Played ourselves right into the game, officials the difference in the end.

The goal itself was a tap in. The control to set up the tap in, however, was excellent. Could easily have been miscontrolled for a Spurs goal kick.