CLAUDE Puel is adamant Virgil van Dijk's future is at Saints in the midst of continued speculation over a potential exit this summer.

The Dutchman is out injured for the season with a foot ligament problem he picked up in January in Saints' 3-0 win over Leicester at St Mary's.

Despite his absence from action, it has not stopped rumours the top class central defender will be subject to big-money bids from almost every leading side in the Premier League in the transfer window.

A fee of around £50m has been talked about for the 25-year-old, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City all high up on the list of potential suitors.

But St Mary's chief Puel says his captain is not going anywhere this summer.

"It was a bad injury for him and it was a bad moment for us with Jose Fonte leaving for West Ham just at the same time as Virgil got injured," he said. "It was difficult for us.

"It’s been a good thing to see the second part of the season with Yoshida and Stephens at centre-back.

"We spoke about the possibility of playing with Stephens and Yoshida together. People told me I’m crazy, but it’s good to see these two players playing at this level.

"Virgil had a bad injury, but now it’s okay, his surgery is finished and he can work normally and go into the gym for rehabilitation and come back next season with us ... with us!"

Van Dijk was signed from Celtic in the summer of 2015 for £13m and has become a colossus for Saints at the back.

The Netherlands international was handed the captain's armband in January following Jose Fonte's exit and he's considered a massive part of the club.

"He's our captain and he’s important for us," Puel added. "He's matured and taken leadership on the team; he’s a fantastic player we know well.

"He’s important for us and now, of course, we will wait to the beginning of the season to see him on the pitch with Southampton.

"He has a long contract and the directors will want to keep him."