Prized Southampton defender 'is not for sale' at the moment, says executive director

Southampton centre back Virgil van Dijk has reportedly been on the shortlist of top Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City. Given Saints’ reputation as a selling club, often to Liverpool, the interested parties may have been hopeful of hashing out a deal this January — though Conte declared in his latest press conference that he’s not looking to sign any new center backs.

Not that it matters because according to Saints executive director Les Reed, the club won't accept any bids for the player this month.

"Virgil is not for the sale. We haven’t had any bids and if we got any bids we wouldn’t consider them because it just doesn’t make sense to think we would release Virgil van Dijk in midseason when we have still got, we believe, all to play for."

"There haven’t been any enquiries but certainly the status of him at the moment is that he is simply not for sale."

-Les Reed; Source: Southampton Echo

With Southampton sitting in mid-table with 24 points in 20 matches, a top six finish is already looking rather unlikely. But, they’re still alive on three fronts, including both domestic cups, so they have plenty left to fight for this season.

As one of the most sought-after players in England, Van Dijk could very well end up moving before next season. But it sounds like Chelsea and any other potential suitors will have until the summer to start the bidding war.