Virgil Van Dijk hands in transfer request

[marlowe]

On the subject of Dutch players VVD has handed in a transfer request to Southampton. Seems he is setting his sights higher......so maybe reconsidering our original offer.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.li...virgil-van-dijk-transfer-request-13444536.amp

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Could do a job.

 

[Nixonator]

Cheeky bid?

 

[trueblue]

Friend of mine who's a Southampton fan - and a sensible one who knows his football - tells me they could be in trouble this season. Can't see it myself, but will bow to his greater insight.

 

[Weststander]

To Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City?

Stains fans hate him for this, slagging him off all summer, but he's become far too good for them. A 26 year player of his standing should be allowed to move on, and the club will receive £60m.

 

[marlowe]

Quite a lengthy request. Obviously not very happy. Good command of written English which would be a bonus:

"It is with regret that I can confirm that I have today handed in a transfer request to leave Southampton Football Club.

Unfortunately I feel that I have no alternative after I was given notice of the club's intention to impose a disciplinary sanction on me of a fine equivalent to two weeks' wages.

I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course.

Over the past six months, I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino, to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.

I am incredibly ambitious, and want to achieve as much as I possibly can, to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer.

I want to play European football again, and challenge for major honours, and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.

I have been left frustrated by the club's position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed.

The period of time that I have just spent injured and unable to play has put a number of things into perspective and made me realise just how important it is to take major opportunities should they arise.
I have consistently relayed my feelings to senior management at Southampton in what I believed to be private and personal conversations. Disappointingly, these conversations have regularly found their way into the media.

I would also like to make clear that I have never once refused to train. I can confirm that I was asked about my frame of mind and for all of the reasons mentioned above I was open and honest in saying that I did not feel I was in a settled mindset given the circumstances.

Following this conversation the manager explained that he only wanted players who he felt were 100% committed to Southampton and told me I would therefore have to train away from the first team.

As a proud professional I am insulted by the suggestion that it was me who refused to train and so feel it is important to point out the true version of events.

I had very much hoped to retain the good relationship I've always enjoyed with everyone at the club, especially the fans, but unfortunately in light of everything that's happened this has now been seriously affected.

I would like to make clear that I have nothing but gratitude to everyone at Southampton for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League.

However, the time for me to move on is now and I hope to be able to work with the club to find the best resolution to suit all parties."

 

[British Bulldog]

They'll sell him and probably replace him with either Smalling or Ben Gibson Imo

 

[mune ni kamome]

If he's so incredibly ambitious why did he sign a contract with them then.

 

[marlowe]

This is the sentence that strongly suggests he is still considering our old offer:

"I want to play European football again, and challenge for major honours, and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist".

 

[Goldstone1976]

If he's so incredibly ambitious why did he sign a contract with them then.

Yup, and loads of gratitude for the club paying his wages while injured and "unable to play". Contractual requirement of course, but he seems happy for the club to honour their side of the bargain while being unwilling to honour his side.

 

[dangull]

If he's so incredibly ambitious why did he sign a contract with them then.

Because the bigger clubs were not sure how good he was, after previously playing at Celtic in the poorer SPL.

 

[Seagulls over Essex]

I heard he's a bit of a Dick.

 

[trueblue]

They'll sell him and probably replace him with either Smalling or Ben Gibson Imo

Well that's the interesting part. My pessimistic Saints fan mate was saying that Katharina Liebherr seems to be losing interest and looking for a way out. A quick Google shows she's now off the board, following previous reports that the German tax authorities are pulling apart her late father's tax affairs. Had passed me by until now tbh. No doubt some other foreign owner will plough in with a fortune - but not the most stable background for big spending right now by the looks of it.

 

[Easy 10]

To Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City?

Stains fans hate him for this, slagging him off all summer, but he's become far too good for them. A 26 year player of his standing should be allowed to move on, and the club will receive £60m.

He signed a new six year contract last year, no doubt on vastly improved terms and probably with a hefty signing on fee. Whats changed since then ? If he didn't want to stay, he shouldn't have signed the deal should he.

"I’m so pleased, I’m so happy. Me and my family have enjoyed it a lot this year. It’s been amazing. It’s only positive. The club is growing and I definitely want to grow with them, that’s how I feel. Hopefully we can make it happen. That’s the plan, to get a lot of achievements going.”

VVD, May 2016

 

[Megazone]

I bet he regrets not joining us now.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Friend of mine who's a Southampton fan - and a sensible one who knows his football - tells me they could be in trouble this season. Can't see it myself, but will bow to his greater insight.

I totally agree with your friend and a lot of my Saints supporting mates think the same. I've been saying this since the middle of last season. They can't keep selling their best players and just carry on as before, the players they're replacing them with are not up to the standard and their fabled youth system is not producing the same quality of player as before. I have serious doubts about the new manager too. It's not a happy camp at all.

According to Oriol Romeo VVD is off to Chelsea, Liverpool aren't even in the reckoning.

 

[Weststander]

If he's so incredibly ambitious why did he sign a contract with them then.

To get a pay rise and at the same time allow the club to secure a much higher fee on selling him mid contract. It's the norm.

 

[Weststander]

I totally agree with your friend and a lot of my Saints supporting mates think the same. I've been saying this since the middle of last season. They can't keep selling their best players and just carry on as before, the players they're replacing them with are not up to the standard and their fabled youth system is not producing the same quality of player as before. I have serious doubts about the new manager too. It's not a happy camp at all.

According to Oriol Romeo VVD is off to Chelsea, Liverpool aren't even in the reckoning.

A petro dollars club will invariably outbid the Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs type of club.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

To Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City?

Stains fans hate him for this, slagging him off all summer, but he's become far too good for them. A 26 year player of his standing should be allowed to move on, and the club will receive £60m.

In that case, why did he sign a 5 (yes FIVE) year contract in the relatively recent past. He has made his bed and he should lie in it. Think of Dale Stephens. I presume there is not a buy out clause, so tough shot if the club do not want to sell at the moment.

 

[Easy 10]

In that case, why did he sign a 5 (yes FIVE) year contract in the relatively recent past. He has made his bed and he should lie in it. Think of Dale Stephens. I presume there is not a buy out clause, so tough shot if the club do not want to sell at the moment.

Six.