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3 is the magic number

Virgil Van Dijk: Southampton boss Claude Puel tells Manchester City, Man Utd and Liverpool they can battle for defender… in three years time

Premier League big boys set to be frustrated as Saints manager rules out £50million sale of in-demand skipper

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CLAUDE PUEL has told Manchester City they must wait THREE YEARS to sign Virgil van Dijk.

City boss Pep Guardiola is lining up a £50million January bid for Southampton’s Dutch defender, 25.

Van DiJk could be the transfer saga of the next two windows
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Van DiJk could be the transfer saga of the next two windowsCredit: Getty Images
Van Dijk has been a rock at the back for Southampton
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Van Dijk has been a rock at the back for SouthamptonCredit: Getty Images
Guardiola will have to wait three years if he wants Van Dijk according to Southampton manager Claude Puel
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Guardiola will have to wait three years if he wants Van Dijk according to Southampton manager Claude PuelCredit: AP:Associated Press

But Van Dijk only signed a six-year contract in May and boss Puel is confident he can keep him at St Mary’s.

Both Manchester United and Liverpool are also said to be interested in Van Dijk and will try and rival or beat and bid that Man City submit.

The Frenchman said: “The price for Virgil will be the same in two or three years. He can stay two or three years with us.

“Virgil is a captain of the team because he has a good personality, strong character and quality. Of course he will stay with us.”

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Puel is targeting a place in Europe again after climbing to seventh with last week’s 3-1 win at Bournemouth.

Saints crashed out of the Europa League at the group stage earlier this month.

Claude Puel is desperate to hold on to to his skipper
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Claude Puel is desperate to hold on to to his skipperCredit: Reuters

But Puel, whose side face Spurs on Wednesday, said: “We would like another season in Europe.

“It is a high level, different to the Premier League and it is important to stay ambitious in the second half of the season.”

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