Liverpool legend John Aldridge denies encouraging Virgil van Dijk to go on strike in order to force through a move from Southampton.

It was claimed Aldo had made the suggestion in his column with the Sunday World last week.

“I'm not saying he should go on strike in a bid to force through a move," he told the sundayworld.com. “I'm just saying this is what happens in the game now.

“If a player wants a move, there are ways he can make it happen and Liverpool have been on the receiving end of this from Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling in recent years.

“I made it clear in my article that I don't like the way the modern game has gone, but all the power is with players these days and if they want a move, they can make it happen.

“Who knows what Van Dijk will do next. I would like to see him move to Liverpool because he would be perfect for Jurgen Klopp's team and a great centre-back partner for Joel Matip, but it is up to the player and his club to sort out the problem now.

“It is annoying that the paper took the quotes from my Sunday World article and put an extra twist on them, but hopefully this clears up the points I was trying to make."