Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk has taken a huge step to force through a record breaking transfer to Liverpool.

The 26-year-old Dutchman has been linked with a move to the Reds all summer but the Saints firm stance has kept Jurgen Klopp at arms length.

Liverpool have been pursuing Leipzig's Naby Keita but the German club have also refused to budge despite two massive offers.

The Reds had to cool their interest in Van Dijk earlier this summer after Southampton contacted the Premier League about an illegal approach.

It clearly hasn't deterred Liverpool enough and the former Celtic defender now appears willing to force his way out of the club.

Valued at £70m, Van Dijk would likely become the most expensive defender of all time.

On Friday, Southampton's new manager Mauricio Pellegrino confirmed that Van Dijk would train alone after he told his manager of his desire to leave.

"He is not involved with the team because psychologically he is not 100%," Pellegrino told BBC Solent.

"When I was talking with him, the boy said that he is not available to play because he wants to leave.

"I need to work with a player that works at 100% to defend Southampton.

"This is the decision. I had to say: 'OK, if you don't want to be involved because you don't feel OK, you have to train alone until this period of time.'"

"We need the player, but 100% - this is the question.

"I hope that Virgil can review his feelings, because you know that today players are big business - not just the player but behind him there is a lot of interest.

"I want to help the squad, I want to help Virgil but we need a player, I repeat, involved in every training session, involved not just with the body but with the mind on the pitch with the rest of the players."

Southampton have sold Liverpool a number of key players in recent years including Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren and Sadio Mane.

The Saints kick off their Premier League season in less than one month, hosting Swansea City on the opening weekend.