Holland centre-back Wesley Hoedt has completed a £15 million transfer from Lazio to Southampton that provides further cover in the ongoing first-team absence of Virgil van Dijk.

Although Southampton remain adamant that Van Dijk will not be sold this summer, the 23-year-old Hoedt is expected to immediately compete for first-team football amid the stand-off between his new club and his Dutch international team-mate.

Van Dijk has still not joined first-team training under new manager Mauricio Pellegrino after consistently outlining his desire to leave but Southampton remain confident that the situation will resolve itself once the transfer window closes.

In what is a World Cup season and ahead of a potential move next year, Southampton believe that Van Dijk will have to accept the situation and refocus. Van Dijk has stressed that he has never refused to train but concerns over his attitude have left him largely working alone or with the Under-23 group.

Southampton have been tracking Hoedt over many months and regard his arrival as unrelated to Van Dijk, even if he also follows Jan Bednarek as the second centre-back signing this summer after the sale earlier in the year of Jose Fonte.