Southampton will not sell Virgil van Dijk for less than £70m, according to the Daily Mail.

The Saints have already reported Liverpool to the Premier League for not following protocol in communicating with the Dutch defender.

And now, it is understood that the Saints will force van Dijk's other suitors – Chelsea and Manchester City – to break the world record fee paid for a defender.

With the financial backing that both clubs have, Southampton are hoping for a bidding war between the two so as their evalution is met.

The 25-year old has five years remaining on his contract with the Saints.