Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino has refused to rule out selling Virgil van Dijk when the transfer window opens next month.
Liverpool were interested in Van Dijk back in June and were willing to smash their transfer record to land the classy Dutch centre-back.
However, the Reds were ordered to cease and desist in their attempts to lure the talented defender to Anfield by the Saints, who threatened to complain of an alleged 'tapping up'.
Despite Van Dijk's explosive transfer request in August , the Dutchman stayed put, with Liverpool never launching an official bid.
With the winter window now less than three weeks from opening, Saints boss Pellegrino admitted Van Dijk's future is uncertain.
"I can't control the market, I am not the owner," he said.
"I have my opinion, I have to give to the technical director and the chairman my opinion, but the club will decide what's best.
"I can't control the market, and I am not the owner of the players, I will recommend to keep our best player here, in the club."
When pressed on Van Dijk's future earlier this week, Pellegrino said: "I can’t say nothing about that because you never know what can happen in the future.
"We have got a lot of players in our club that the other clubs wants to buy or on loan.
"Also the market offers not much but we will be ready."
Van Dijk was left out of the Southampton side that lost 1-0 to Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, with summer signing Wesley Hoedt preferred alongside Maya Yoshida.
“We have to choose the players who want to help the club 100 per cent," Pellegrino said before the game.
