Sourced from Daily Mail article
Le Saux: Liverpool’s pursuit of Van Dijk shows how market’s changed
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Southampton were left furious over an alleged Liverpool approach to Van Dijk earlier this month and asked the Premier League to investigate the Anfield club’s conduct.
Liverpool released a statement a day later withdrawing their interest in the defender and apologising to Southampton ‘for any misunderstanding’.
It’s the second time Liverpool have been forced into an embarrassing climbdown over their transfer conduct after their failed pursuit of Fulham’s Clint Dempsey in 2012.
And former Southampton and Chelsea star Le Saux believes the Van Dijk saga proves Liverpool must take care with their transfer dealings in the future.
‘I think Liverpool have to be very careful about the rules and regulations,’ Le Saux told Sportsmail. 'How clubs have approached other clubs has always been a grey area.
‘If clubs are unsettling players by going on fishing trips then it can cause problems if it’s against the FA rules. But (with Van Dijk’s case) Liverpool have been quick to back off.’
Liverpool have benefited from Southampton’s policy of selling their star players for big transfer fees in recent seasons.
The Saints have let Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and Rickie Lambert move to Merseyside.
Luke Shaw and Morgan Schneiderlin left for Manchester United while Victor Wanyama joined Tottenham.
Southampton have also seen their managers poached since returning to the Premier League - with Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman moving on to Tottenham and Everton respectively.
And Le Saux thinks his former side will suffer on the pitch if they continue haemorrhaging talent.
'It’s hard if a player is being linked with a move to a more successful club.
'But for Southampton what they’ve done in terms of selling their best players - you can’t do that forever.
'Success requires you keeping the best players around. It’s important to get that balance right and continue to put out quality on the pitch."
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