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Do we believe Claude Puel’s comments about Virgil van Dijk’s Southampton future?

By Chris Hughes

NORWICH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton reacts during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Norwich City and Southampton at Carrow Road on January 7, 2017 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)
NORWICH, ENGLAND - JANUARY 07: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton reacts during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Norwich City and Southampton at Carrow Road on January 7, 2017 in Norwich, England. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images) /
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Claude Puel has gone on record saying that Virgil van Dijk will be a Saints player next season, but how much truth lies behind the Frenchman’s words?

With England’s elite swarming around him like sharks, it was almost a foregone conclusion that Southampton’s team captain would depart in the summer.

Despite being injured for the majority of 2017, the Dutchman’s stock is seemingly still on rise, and it looked like a case of assessing which deal was best come summertime.

However the under-fire manager has said that van Dijk will NOT leave, but haven’t we heard this before?

Since returning to the Premier League five years ago the Saints have become a feeder club for the league’s top clubs – most notably Liverpool. However Manchester United have pinched Luke Shaw and Morgan Schneiderlin in recently seasons.

However it should be noted that not every Southampton who has risen to the top has instantly departed – the Saints got another year out of a lot of players, including Victor Wanyama.

"“He’s our captain and he’s important for us. He has matured and taken leadership on the team. He’s a fantastic player we know well. He’s important for us and now, of course, we will wait to the beginning of the season to see him on the pitch with Southampton.” – Claude Puel"

BURNLEY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 14: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton controls the ball in the box during the Premier League match between Burnley and Southampton at Turf Moor on January 14, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND – JANUARY 14: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton controls the ball in the box during the Premier League match between Burnley and Southampton at Turf Moor on January 14, 2017 in Burnley, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

However in the cases of Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane and Victor Wanyama, their suitors were limited.

The former – who incidentally was also team captain – only ever really had Liverpool as a possible destination. Despite only having a year left on his contract no other English sides really challenged Tottenham for the £12 million signing on the Kenyan Wanyama.

However this time around van Dijk has a host of possible destinations, in fact only Manchester United and Spurs haven’t been credited with a serious interest out of the league’s top six.

It seems like if Liverpool or Manchester City pull out of the deal in some way, shape or form then Arsenal or Liverpool will swoop, so is Puel talking rubbish?

One obvious suggestion is that the Frenchman needs the fans on his side again. The supporters have become disillusioned with the 55-year-old as of late, and could do with giving them something to believe in.

Naturally the Saints could keep a hold of the man until the summer of 2018, after all he is under contract for a considerable amount of time. However as seen with Sadio Mane and the aforementioned Wanyama, do you really want a player on your team whose head’s at another club?