PREMIER League legend Steven Gerrard is urging Saints' defender Virgil van Dijk to leave the club this summer and join Liverpool.

Gerrard, who played 710 games for Liverpool during a glittering career, is reported to have said his former club need to sign van Dijk in order compete in the Premier League and in Europe.

When asked whether van Dijk was needed, the 37-year-old said: “Yes (he is a necessity).”

It comes days after Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger reaffirmed that van Dijk is "not for sale in this window" and that keeping him was a "statement we need to make".

Earlier this month, the Dutch centre-half handed in a transfer request, after weeks of agitating for a move away from St Mary’s.

The 26-year-old has not featured for Saints since suffering an ankle injury in January.

He has been training with the club's Under-23s throughout pre-season.

Liverpool and the club's manager Jurgen Klopp have long wanted to sign the Dutch international to bolster their squad's defence.

Yesterday, Saints' continued their unbeaten start to the season, clinching a last-gasp 3-2 victory over 10-man West Ham.