Things are finally settling down when it comes to Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutch center back, 26, was the subject of summer-long speculation as he handed in a transfer request at Southampton and Liverpool had to issue an apology for an alleged illegal meeting between VVD and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Throw an eight-month injury into the mix and it has been a turbulent time for the former Celtic center back.
However, van Dijk insisted he has moved on after Saints’ disappointing 1-0 defeat to Burnley at St Mary’s on Saturday and didn’t seem as if he was pining for a move to Anfield anytime soon.
Right now Van Dijk is no longer Southampton’s team captain after he trained on his own for most of preseason after telling new manager Mauricio Pellegrino he wanted to leave.
Saints didn’t sell him to Liverpool, who had reportedly offered over $75 million for the classy center back, and with van Dijk still having five years left on his current contract at Southampton it appears he will staying put for now.
In January transfer rumors will again swirl and with Liverpool’s defensive issues so far this season he will again be linked with a move to Anfield.
Next up for Southampton after the international break is, you guessed it, a trip to Liverpool in the Premier League.
Needless to say VVD will be on the top of his game with Klopp and Co. looking on closer than usual from the opposition dugout.
He is still showing signs of rustiness from the foot injury he picked up in January and which kept him out for the second half of the 2016-17 season, but VVD is well on his way back to being one of the best center backs in the Premier League.