FORMER Saints striker Gordon Watson believes Virgil Van Dijk will be “badly advised” if the leaves St Mary’s and signs for another Premier League club.

The Dutch international has blossomed into one of the best centre halves in Europe since his £12m move from Glasgow Celtic on the final day of the summer 2015 transfer window.

Van Dijk has been perennially linked with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in recent months.

Price tags of around £50m have routinely been mentioned.

And at the weekend Anfield legend Steven Gerrard admitted if he was Liverpool manager he would try and sign Van Dijk Speaking to BT Sport, Gerrard said: “Who I think we need, I would go and try and bid for Van Dijk from Southampton.

“But we’ve had enough of their players so that will probably go down like a lead balloon.”

Watson believes Van Dijk is destined for one of European football’s truly stellar names if and when he decides his future lies away from St Mary’s.

“Virgil Van Dijk is the best centre half in the Premier League, and one of the two best I have seen in the last five years.

“The other one played for Saints as well - Toby Alderweireld.

“Van Dijk could easily play for one of the top three European clubs - Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

“He is probably more of a Barcelona or Bayern player than a Madrid one, though.

“He must surely end up going to one of those three clubs, and for a lot of money.

“If John Stones is worth £50m ...

“If Virgil ends up going to another Premier League club he will have been badly advised.”