The media campaign to force Virgil Van Dijk away from St Mary's has started with various sources claiming that Manchester City are ready to offer £50 million for the Dutch defender.

Saints fans will be dismayed to read this morning that Manchester City have already held talks about a £50 million move for Virgil Van Dijk, but strangely no one seems to be able to confirm just who they have held talks with.

It almost certainly won't have been Saints who have already stated that Van Dijk won't move in this transfer window and if City seriously want Van Dijk then they would not be conducted their business in the public eye and thus alerting possible competition for his signature and putting up the price in doing so.

So that points to Van Dijk's agent trying to stir up the interest in his client and as we know Van Dijk has recently joined Rob Jansen, the man who was responsible for brokering Ronald Koeman's big move to Everton.

Although the Toffee's will be linked they will not be a serious competitior, Van Dijk knows that his next move will be crucial, he is now good enough to play for the best teams in Europe and an Everton side who are currently in disarray and at best are a top six contender will not be an option for him.

City will be keen to do business in January, but Saints hold the cards with Van Dijk on a log term deal, a move away will be inevitable given his quality, however Saints are highly unlikely to do it in January especially given that they have a League Cup semi final to play in.

So Saints fans should be prepared for a barrage of Van Dijk transfer rumours, but they should be aware that they will have little substance and in the main will be the players agent trying to stir up interest.

Photo: Action Images

Sanguin added 08:59 - Dec 22 I think all of our players are for sale if you're offering £50m, but van Dijk won't leave in January.
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BUCK added 09:05 - Dec 22 The above comment is 100% bang on, I'd love van dijk to go to man city for 50 million,they would be a dominant force then. I just hope to god saints spend it on 2 top centre backs and not just one and pocket 30 million,reason why I'd want him at man city,is I hate man u,Liverpool, and Chelsea. Like arsenal.but obsessed with saints. So please stay,but saints cannot turn down 50 million simple as that. Rant over

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highfield49 added 09:09 - Dec 22 I was under a stupid illusion that some sort of formal training was required to become a journalist. It's obvious to me now that a vague grasp of the English language a not particularly fertile imagination and an internet connection are more than adequate prerequisites. Sorry, can't hang around on here today Nick I've got a breaking news story to write about Fonte going to Shanghai for £17m and £350,000 per week with £3m signing bonus. It's all based on fact........a source told me.

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highfield49 added 09:23 - Dec 22 Just rereading my post and I want to make it clear that my sarcasm is not aimed at you Nick but at lazy cut and paste " jounalists" who put together stories about any player without having to provide any facts whatsoever.
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SaintNick added 09:34 - Dec 22 I agree with you highfield, in the transfer window build up the media just put up stories aimed at headlines
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SaintJez added 10:27 - Dec 22 Man City just spent £50m on Stones! That must make VVD 100m easy. 150m maybe. Come on City, don't insult us. I still feel his next move is Barcelona anyway. They are such a wonderful football club in terms of the way they play the game but they are dire at centre half. He is the perfect player for them. If he goes anywhere, I can accept that move. Don't go to City though, Virgil! You are better than that...

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aspensaint added 12:30 - Dec 22 Never mind vvd, saints hold all the cards and can surely hold off until next season. Why aren't we in for Morgan?At 18 million he is a bargain and will give Romeu a break.
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saintmark1976 added 13:01 - Dec 22 All paper talk in a slack week before Boxing Day as Highfield49 suggests. In any event VVD is under contract. If approached, all the Board needs to do is to tell whoever the club is that they(S F C) do not wish to break that contract at this time. If VVD throws a moody and does not want to play for us then so what, bearing in mind that in selling we would lose his services anyway. In regard to Morgan.Taking him back would simply send out all the wrong signals to any other of our players thinking about a big money move. He made the decision to leave so why should we give him a route back?

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aspensaint added 13:18 - Dec 22 Because he is a top player and would strengthen our squad. Note how we struggled first half without Romeu at the weekend.....
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SaintJez added 13:57 - Dec 22 He is a top player but there's something uncomfortable about paying them back most of the fee they paid us for a player who has essentially failed there - plus having to meet the exorbitant wages he is sure to want which they have been paying him. In a footballing sense, we definitely need him but Saints operate more as a business and I expect we will look elsewhere for the next Morgan / Wanyama rather than upset the wage structure and buy back the real one.

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SaintBrock added 18:37 - Dec 22 Nick, now you are just being silly for silly's sake.. "The media campaign to force Virgil Van Dijk away from St Mary's has started" Sounds like you've gita vetted interest in him leaving? Well, news for you my friend, VVD ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon!
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SanMarco added 18:55 - Dec 22 I agree with SaintJez that Barca in the summer (possibly to join Koeman) is the best bet for VVD. I disagree with him on Morgan though. If the price is right and he wants to come we should go for it (I fear he WILL end up at Everton though).
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Gizzle007 added 23:24 - Dec 23 After comments that have been bouncing about could and hope that we have a manager that is saying no and building but needs to be backed by a club that I love but are underachieving collecting money for the rich to get richer, or what I hope and pray for that there selling high and spending low keeping a strong team which they have done then gonna shock the world with the investment they have made, and let loose and make us a force to be messed with, we have sold and made a bank of money and have got players to commit long term so there is clearly a plan, just please if I'm right is the time to let it go please we March on

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