Southampton fear Virgil van Dijk has played his last game for the club as his injury could be worse than first feared
Defender reportedly tells friends that he won't be fit again this campaign
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SOUTHAMPTON defender Virgil van Dijk fears he has played his last game for the club.
The highly-sought after centre-back injured his ankle in a clash with Leicester last month and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
It was initially feared that the Dutch star would be ruled out for at least two months but, he has told friends that he is unlikely to return to action this campaign.
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He has already been ruled out of Southampton's EFL Cup final clash with Manchester United on February 26.
And the 25-year-old is expected to leave Saint Mary's this summer after establishing himself as one of the Premier League's most reliable defenders.
Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona are all thought to be interested in his signature.
But with a £50million price-tag on his head, Saints boss Claude Puel may be powerless in holding onto his main star.
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However there is a glimmer of hope that Van Dijk will remain at the club beyond this season after being handed the captain's armband.
The towering Dutchman signed a bumper new six-year contract in May last year, which Saints insist has no release clause.
But the club are renowned for losing a host of big names in the past including Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne.