Man City drop Virgil van Dijk interest

Manchester City have ended their ongoing pursuit of Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk as they feel the player does not deserve the £50m price tag on his head.

The Netherlands international had agreed personal terms with rival club Liverpool, only for the Saints to lodge an official complaint against the Merseyside club for tapping up the player.

Jurgen Klopp's side have since issued an apology to end their interest, and according to The Mirror, the Citizens have made a similar decision as they believe Van Dijk is not worth a world-record fee for a defender.

Southampton were initially holding out on a £70m sum for their star defender, but they are now willing to lower their valuation amid the controversy regarding the Dutch footballer.

Premier League holders Chelsea are currently the sole club expressing an interest in Van Dijk, who has stood out with his performances for the Saints in recent seasons.

Van Dijk has scored seven goals in 68 outings for Southampton since his £13m move from Scottish champions Celtic in 2015.