Virgil van Dijk is going nowhere, insists Southampton chairman: 'He is very committed to us for a long time'

Virgil van Dijk is going nowhere, insists Southampton chairman: 'He is very committed to us for a long time' .

Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk has been subject to much transfer talk

Liverpool and Manchester City were reportedly interested in the Saints star

Chairman Ralph Krueger has vowed to change their future transfer tactics

Van Dijk's centre back partner Jose Fonte left for West Ham in January 

Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk will not be moving clubs this summer, insists chairman Ralph Krueger.

The defender was in demand in January with a host of top Premier League clubs reportedly interested in the Dutchman. 

Tall, strong, athletic and a threat at both ends - the 25-year-old has been a stand-out performer for Claude Puel's side and has proven himself to be more than adept since his move from Celtic in 2015.

Southampton star Virgil van Dijk 'very committed' to the club, insists chairman Ralph Krueger

But Krueger is adamant Saints will fight off any advances for their star performer and assured fans he will stay at St Mary's - after his defensive partner Jose Fonte made the switch to West Ham last month.

'We are just out of the January transfer window and are striving to keep this group together and to build on it,' Krueger told talkSPORT.

RECENT OUTGOINGS AT ST MARY'S

Some big names have been sold on by the Saints since 2014/15... 

Jose Fonte - West Ham

Sadio Mane - Liverpool

Graziano Pelle - Shandong Luneng 

Victor Wanyama - Tottenham

Morgan Schneiderlin - Man United

Nathaniel Clyne - Liverpool

Dejan Lovren - Liverpool

Calum Chambers - Arsenal 

Adam Lallana - Liverpool 

Luke Shaw - Man United

Rickie Lambert - Liverpool 'Virgil is very committed to us for a long time and we don't see anything but that in our future. He is our team captain and we don't see him anywhere else than in red and white stripes.'

The defender has also chipped in with four goals for the Saints in all competitions this season

The Saints' revered production line and shrewd transfer dealings have yielded top talents which now grace other top clubs in England.

Southampton have fallen foul to the label of a 'selling club' in recent years, with their assets being prised away by Premier League heavyweights, leaving the club in a constant rebuilding state.

Now the chairman has said the club will change their approach to future transfer windows in order to stabilise and build upon the foundations established by their recruitment policy and stellar academy set-up.

'We don't want to do what we did in the last three summers every year,' Krueger added.

'We would like to move away from that and we feel confident this summer will be a lot quieter in Southampton and we can keep the core of this team moving forward for a few years.

'That is going to be important when you see how excellent the group is right now and how exciting the football is.

'The game we are playing is a pleasure to watch and a pleasure to be part of.'