Football pundit Paul Merson has said that he believes that Virgil van Dijk will not play for Southampton again.
The Dutch international Van Dijk had been linked with a move to Liverpool all summer and handed in a transfer request to the Saints at the beginning of August.
Van Dijk has also yet to feature for the side this season which indicates that he was trying to force through a move but Southampton however refused to sell their captain this summer.
Merson now believes that the club should have cashed in on the player and sold him as he will not play for the again.
Whilst discussing the situation, Merson said, “People will look at Southampton and say they’ve kept Virgil van Dijk, but I honestly don’t think he will play. They have kept an unhappy player and after everything that has gone on there I’d be shocked if he gets back in the team.
“I think they will get rid of him in January when someone will pay silly money. They’ve bought him for little money, so why not go and make a massive profit? They were just determined not to let Liverpool have him.”
It remains to be seen whether Van Dijk will return to the field at St Mary’s or whether he will express his frustration towards the club by refusing to don the jersey again.