Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino insists he's not frozen Virgil van Dijk out of first team training.

Despite the Dutchman's desire to join Liverpool, Pellegrino publicly declared he is hoping to bring the £60m-rated defender back into the fold at St Mary's.

Pellegrino said: "Virgil is part of the squad and I can't talk about something that right now is something I can't manage as a manager.

"Hopefully, I repeat again, we are waiting him to train with the team and to be part of the team again.

"I was talking with him twice and the club was clear with him.

"I will repeat again the same. I think all of us, the technical director, me as a manager, we know that Virgil is an important part of the club but we need him in another way."