Daily Echo:

VIRGIL van Dijk 'is expected to be a Liverpool player by the end of the summer transfer window' says a source close to the Saints captain, according to reports.

It comes after new Saints manger Mauricio Pellegrino took the decision to remove van Dijk from his squad, confirming that the 26-year-old is training alone at Staplewood this week while the rest of the team jets off to France to continue preparations for the new season.

The Dutch centre half, who has been targeted by Liverpool, told Pellegrino he is “not available to play because he wants to leave”, according to the manager.

Earlier in the transfer window, Liverpool apologised for allegedly making an illegal approach for van Dijk and issued a statement saying they had ended their interest in signing him.

However, Sky Sports News have reported a source close to van Dijk expects him to be a Liverpool player by the end of the current transfer window.

Saints still insist their captain is not for sale.