Daily Echo:

FORMER Saints striker Brett Ormerod believes Virgil van Dijk and other wantaway players now have "too much control" and that contracts "aren't worth the paper they're printed on".

Van Dijk handed in a transfer request last week and has been training alone after a summer spent agitating for a move away, amid interested from Liverpool and Chelsea.

The Dutchman signed a new six-year contract last July, but has shown no desire to honour that deal at St Mary's by pushing for the exit door.

"You could say it’s the modern-day footballer now," said Ormerod, who played 116 games for Saints, scoring 19 goals from 2001-2006. "He signed a new deal but, in some ways, contracts sometimes aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

"Unfortunately for Southampton, they’re often caught between a rock and a hard place as some of their players will want to make – as they’ll perceive it – a step up.

"Van Dijk is on a fair amount of money and there’s no doubt the club will get a huge profit if they sell him and players often seem to get their own way now.

"Perhaps there needs to be more of a balance between player and club power and the Bosman ruling has arguably put too much control in players’ hands.

"He was happy to sign a contract and one would like to think that he would have wanted to see it out, but situations change in football and heads get turned."

There have been, so far, no bids for Van Dijk, with Saints adamant they will not sell.

But Ormerod, who retired in January 2016 after also playing for Blackpool, Preston North End and Wrexham among others, reckons he's likely to end up at Anfield before the end of this transfer window.

"I think he’s off to Liverpool if I’m honest," he said. "A player who is clearly upset and not giving his all for the club can have a detrimental effect on the squad and Southampton are a team that always have a great team spirit and bond.

"At some point, perhaps there is a temptation to cut their losses and take the substantial profit the move will generate."

The 40-year-old, who is now running a gym in Southport with his wife Lisa, has no doubt, however, that Saints will be able to source an adequate replacement.

"There is always a player in Southampton’s academy/youth-set up that can replace their stars," he said. "They are one of the best clubs in the world to bring up their own players.

"I think they have one or two targets to replace Van Dijk. I can’t think of another club that has lost some of their best players as often as the Saints but has continued to perform well – quite simply it’s one of the best run clubs in the Premier League."

The former striker still keeps a keen eye on Saints' progress and would like nothing that to see Mauricio Pellegrino's side go toe-to-toe with the big sides last season.

He also made his prediction for the season ahead.

"If they can replicate last season and finish in the top half with entertaining football then it will be a good season for the fans," he said "I’d love to see them going to bigger teams and turning them over.

"They need to also keep their identity of bringing through youth players into the first team set-up.

"James Ward-Prowse is worthy of that armband and I’m hopeful he can continue his good form from the last few years. Gabbiadini could be a huge player for Southampton if they can provide him with the service; he has proven he can score goals.

"I’d take eighth in a heartbeat."

This interview was brought to you in conjunction with Bwin.

To read the full interview with Brett Ormerod, click here.