Chelsea hope Southampton will choose to negotiate with them over Liverpool if they decide to sell Virgil van Dijk this month.

Van Dijk's future at St Mary's Stadium remains in doubt despite Southampton consistently saying he is not for sale, and it has been reported that Chelsea are preparing a £50million bid plus add-ons to buy him.

Standard Sport first revealed last December that the Netherlands international is one of coach Antonio Conte's top targets to move to Stamford Bridge.

However, the centre-half made it clear he preferred a move to Liverpool earlier this summer.

A switch to Anfield was called off after Southampton complained to the Premier League alleging the centre half had been tapped up.

Van Dijk is continuing his attempts to force a transfer away, with Liverpool still his preferred destination, and refused to travel on the club's pre-season tour to France last week.

Southampton are determined to make a stand, but Chelsea feel they are in with a chance of acquiring the 26-year-old should Manuel Pellegrino's side give up on trying to keep an unhappy player.

Southampton are still furious with Liverpool and Chelsea think they would be more willing to deal with them if it came to negotiating a transfer.

Conte wants to make four signings before the end of the transfer window with a wing back, central midfielder and attacker top of the wish-list.

Chelsea were believed to be prioritising areas of the squad other than central defence having already bought Antonio Rudiger and recalled Andreas Christensen from loan.

But if there is a slight chance they can sign Van Dijk, then the club will make an attempt. He hasn't played since injuring an ankle in January so will be short of match fitness.

Speaking on Van Dijk, Pellegrino said: "The situation is the same. I can’t say no more, because the situation is the boy is aside of the team because he doesn't want to play for us."