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Van Dijk left out of Southampton squad amid Liverpool rumours

Van Dijk left out of Southampton squad amid Liverpool rumours

Virgil van Dijk has been left out of Southampton's squad for a pre-season training camp in France.

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Manager Mauricio Pellegrino has chosen a panel of 25 players to head for Evian-les-Bains, but the Netherlands international centre-back will not travel with the team as speculation grows that he could make a switch to Arsenal or Liverpool in the coming weeks.

Southampton have been fighting to retain the services of the 26-year-old former Celtic centre-back, stating in June that he is not for sale "at any price" and even threatening legal action after indicating they felt Liverpool had made an illegal approach for him.

For a period, that quelled the Reds' apparent interest, yet over the course of the last fortnight, reports have steadily increased linking the Anfield club with a renewed push to sign the defender.

On July 21, Pellegrino confirmed that Van Dijk had asked to leave the club and said that as a result he would have to train alone. 

Arsenal have also been associated with a move for the Dutch defender, who has played 55 times in the Premier League since moving to the Saints in 2015.