Transfer Centre

Mauricio Pellegrino ready to reinvest Virgil van Dijk money

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 31 December 2017

Pellegrino ready to reinvest Van Dijk fee

Mauricio Pellegrino says that he has a "couple of targets" in mind for January, when he will be backed heavily following the £75m departure of Virgil van Dijk.

Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has revealed that he intends to reinvest the funds from Virgil van Dijk's sale to bring in a couple of new players in January.

The Saints will officially offload their Dutch centre-back to Liverpool on Monday in a £75m transfer, making him the most expensive defender of all time.

Pellegrino is in need of new recruits across the field following a disappointing first half to the campaign, with Southampton just two points above the dropzone heading into the New Year, and the 46-year-old already has some options in mind.

"Without Virgil we have to try and think about the future and bring to the squad a couple of targets to improve and try to be stronger," he told reporters.

"We never know [how busy they will be] because I can't control the market. It depends the possibilities we will have. It's not easy because in December important players are not easy to bring in. We have opportunities and we have to be ready."

Southampton are said to be interested in forwards Theo Walcott and Daniel Sturridge of Arsenal and Liverpool respectively.