Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino has revealed that Virgil van Dijk is to sit out his side's opening game of the Premier League season against Swansea City on Saturday.
The Dutch centre-back, who has been out of action since January due to a foot injury, recently handed in a transfer request after seeing his move to Liverpool blocked earlier in the summer.
Pellegrino remains hopeful of persuading Van Dijk to remain at St Mary's Stadium for at least another year, but he will be without his star defender - who has spent much of the summer training alone - against the Swans due to a virus.
"This week he had some trouble with a virus. He couldn't train the last two days," Pellegrino told reporters. "But Virgil is an important player and we need him focused on our club.
"My reaction is the same that I said three weeks ago - we are expecting him to come back, to train with us because we need the players, we need all of them. Hopefully he can change his point of view."
Liverpool were forced to withdraw their interest in Van Dijk after making an alleged illegal approach, but the former Celtic ace is said to be desperate to join the Reds.
Daniel Lewis
