Southampton will face a steep, uphill battle if they’re to retain the services of their staunch centre back Virgil van Dijk next season.
Despite injury ruling him out for a large part of the second half of the season, the Dutch international has been a shining example to all defenders in the Premier League.
The former Celtic man has amassed some ?credible admirers in the shape of Arsene Wenger, Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte, and Pep Guardiola. However, according to a report from the Manchester Evening News, the 25-year-old has allegedly signalled his preference towards the latter.
The south-coast club’s imposing centre back is said to be a fan of Guardiola’s tactics, with defenders being urged to play out from the back, in order to contribute towards the attacking phases.
The Saints are widely-rumoured to be holding out for at least £50m for their robust defensive star, and with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss poised to clear out his defensive ranks in the summer, Van Dijk’s wish could soon become a reality.
The prospect of working with the illustrious Spanish manager at the Etihad will certainly be a tantalising notion for the strapping Southampton captain, so a proposed move to the Sky Blues would be a highly plausible one indeed.
Although, due to the hefty array of rival suitors which are vying to acquire his prolific services this summer, it’s billed to be a behemoth battle for his signature, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all preparing to compete with Manchester City.
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