The Longest Day Is Here It Is Finally Van D Day ! Thursday, 31st Aug 2017 10:14 The last three months have all been building up to 11pm on August 31st for what could become known as Van D Day, but where will Virgil Van Dijk be at the end of it, get ready for the Longest Day featuring a star studded cast. This summer has been fraught for Saints fans as Liverpool have pursued Virgil Van Dijk relentlessly, not by actually bidding for him, but through the media trying to get others to do their dirty work for them. There have been plenty willing to do so, mainly ex Liverpool players and friendly journalists who have told anyone that will listen that a deal is definite and close since the end of May. But there have also been those who have not helped Liverpool like Chelsea and Manchester City who know that if they bid for Van Dijk and got it accepted they would look foolish as Liverpool suddenly swooped, it is the worst kept secret that the player has ageed terms, but Liverpool cannot bid for fear of being sanctioned for illegal tapping up of the player. But today will see Van Dijk either a Liverpool player or staying at St Mary's at least for another 4 months or so, but what will it be ? The big question is whether Liverpool will risk a bid and a final push, if they do then they could face charges over their conduct in unsettling the player and that could lead to a transfer ban, they might be content to gamble that the worst they would get would be a ban till June 2018 and they might not be too bothered at missing out in that window if they could get Van Dijk. But on the other hand if Saints stayed firm, then they could find themselves short at the back and unable to plug the hole in January and that could cost them dearly. All indications though are that Saints are standing firm and have been upfront with Van Dijk throughout the saga, surely the player himself must be hacked off with the way Liverpool have conducted themselves and the way they have left him to try and force a move through due to their incompetence and arrogance that has left them in this position. Our sources tell us that Van Dijk is out of the country and with his family in Holland, he has been given this week off and is expected to report back to first team training on Monday. They say the club has told him he will not be sold and he has now accepted that and will rejoin the squad on his return, however we will have to wait for Monday to find that one out. So today is Van D Day, by the end of it we will hopefully have won the battle to keep him at St Mary's, but like the original D Day back in 1944, although that day was crucial and vital to the overall cause, it was only the start and the most difficult part was the week following it as the allied forces struggled to keep their foothold and push on. That is the same for Saints, keeping Van Dijk is only the first step, the more difficult part ig getting him back into the squad and playing again and more importantly playing well. Again our sources tell us that although he is fit he is not match fit and that wouldn't happen for the Watford home game, however the away fixture at Crystal Palace is the target Saints have when he could be available for selection again, the big question being whether he himself is prepared to knuckle down and give 100% not to mention the supporters reaction to him, that is why the club would prefer his return to match action to be an away fixture, preferably Palace so all being well he could face Manchester United the following week. But Van D Day is only the start, the Battle Of The Bulge will come in January when the Liverpool forces will mount a massive push to try and crush our resolve. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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