John Aldridge: 'Virgil van Dijk should strike to force Liverpool move'

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 21 June 2017

John Aldridge claims that Virgil van Dijk's move from Southampton to Liverpool is 'not dead in the water', as the defender can still force through a transfer.

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has told Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk that the only way he will force a summer transfer is to go on strike.

The Netherlands international saw a proposed £50m switch to Anfield collapse earlier this month due to the Reds' illegal approach, forcing them into a public apology.

Liverpool have since withdrawn their interest in the 25-year-old and talk of a move to Manchester City or Chelsea has also quietened of late, but Aldridge claims that the ball is still in Van Dijk's court as he can take matters into his own hands.

"Players and their agents hold all the power these days and if he says he won't kick another ball for Southampton and demands a move, it will happen," The Mirror quotes him as saying.

"Tapping up goes on all the time in the game and even if Liverpool went a bit far in their pursuit of Van Dijk before they spoke to Southampton, I don't believe this transfer story is dead in the water.

"Van Dijk needs to make the next move and I reckon he will tell Southampton that he wants out and he wants to go to Liverpool. I don't like the way the game has gone in some ways and players can hold clubs to ransom if they want a move and big money offers are coming in, but that is the way of the world now.

"I still see this transfer happening one way or the other and I certainly hope it does because I'd like to have seen a little more movement from Liverpool in the transfer market this summer."

Van Dijk has made 55 Premier League appearances for Southampton since joining from Celtic in 2015.