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.