Saturday 24 December 2016 08:38, UK
Virgil van Dijk says he is happy at Southampton but harbours ambitions like every other professional player in football.
The Netherlands international defender has been linked with Manchester City and Chelsea during next month's transfer window.
However, the 25-year-old remains coy over his immediate plans, telling The Times: "Southampton is a very good club for me, it is an amazing place to be and I am happy to be part of the success.
"Every player in the world has ambitions. I have ambitions like everyone else. I want to get the maximum out of myself as a player.
"I can improve in every aspect and that takes time. That takes games. That takes playing at the highest level and with the national team.
"Everyone says that, at 25, the best years are still to come but I am enjoying every bit of it now."
It has been reported that Manchester City would pay around £50m for Van Dijk's services although his manager at Southampton, Claude Puel, poured cold water on the suggestion that Saints need to cash in on him right now.
Puel stressed: "I think, for Virgil, the price will be the same in two or three years.
"He can stay for two or three years with us. He's an important player for the team.
"Also, along with Jose Fonte and Steven Davis, he is a captain of the team. He has a good personality, strong character, quality, and of course he will stay with us."
If Southampton were to sell Van Dijk in January for £50m, it would represent a massive profit for the club who bought him from Celtic for £12m only 16 months ago.
The former Groningen man signed an extended long-term contract with the south coast club in May of this year.
