Southampton hope to reintegrate Virgil van Dijk into first-team training next week, with new manager Mauricio Pellegrino preparing to again tell his captain that he will not be sold this summer.

Van Dijk has been left to train back at the club’s New Forest base while the rest of the squad continue their preparation in France after he was judged not to be in the right of frame of mind but it is understood that the 26-year-old has worked diligently this week on his fitness.

Southampton’s new board of directors remain adamant that this will be the first summer since the departure of former chairman Nicola Cortese in 2014 in which they will not make major sales. That stance extends to Ryan Bertrand – who has been of interest to Manchester City – as well as Van Dijk.

The Van Dijk situation blew up early in the transfer window when a series of stories emerged in which it was reported that Van Dijk wanted to join Liverpool due to their manager Jurgen Klopp. That led to a complaint by Southampton over suspicions of direct contact between Van Dijk and Klopp – which would be against Premier League rules – and then an apology from Liverpool and promise that they would not pursue the transfer.