Thankfully for Arsenal fans this has not happened with our Chile international striker Alexis Sanchez, even though it seems pretty clear to all concerned that he would have liked to secure a transfer away from the Gunners this summer, but when a player is really determined to leave a club that does not want to sell him it can get quite prickly and the player in question can make a real nuisance of themselves.
That seems to be the case with the Southampton and Holland defender Virgil Van Dijk who has been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool, although that was hit by the Anfield club being forced to apologise for tapping him up and relations between the two Premier League clubs appear to be strained to say the least.
Van Dijk does not see things quite the same way though and has now not only handed in a formal transfer request but has released a statement complaining about the way his current club are dealing with him and claiming that there has been transfer interest in him from more than one source, The Mirror reports.
The centre back’s statement says, “It is with regret that I can confirm that I have today handed in a transfer request to leave Southampton.
“Unfortunately I feel I have no alternative after I was given notice of the club’s intention to impose a disciplinary sanction against me of a fine equivalent to 2 weeks wages. I will be appealing what I feel to be an unjustified sanction and their inability to follow the correct disciplinary protocol in due course.
“Over the past six months I have held numerous discussions with representatives of the board, the former manager Claude Puel as well as the new manager Mauricio Pellegrino to inform them all of my desire to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
“I am incredibly ambitious and want to achieve as much as I possibly can to fulfil my potential in what is a very short career as a professional footballer. I want to play European football again and challenge for major honours and as such I would like Southampton to consider the interest in me from top clubs should it still exist.
“I have been left frustrated by the club’s position that I am not for sale and am disappointed that enquiries from multiple top clubs have been consistently rebuffed.
“The period of time that I have just spent injured and unable to play has put a number of things into perspective and made me realise just how important it is to take major opportunities should they arise.
“I have consistently relayed my feelings to senior management at Southampton in what I believed to be private and personal conversations.
“Disappointingly, these conversations have regularly found their way into the media.
“I had very much hoped to retain the good relationship I’ve always enjoyed with everyone at the club, especially the fans, but unfortunately in light of everything that’s happened this has now been seriously affected.
“I would like to make clear that I have nothing but gratitude to everyone at Southampton for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League.
“However, the time for me to move on is now and I hope to be able to work with the club to find the best resolution to suit all parties.”
Now a lot of football pundits and many Arsenal fans feel that the centre of defence is a position which the Gunners could be stronger in, so do you think Arsenal could be one of these multiple top clubs whose interest in the Dutchman has been rebuffed?
If not, why not and do you think that Arsene Wenger should now be looking at him, or does this statement show that Van Dijk is not the sort of player that we need after all?
Bob.