According to reports in the Daily Mail, Chelsea and Manchester City will have to pay at least £70m if they want to sign Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk this summer.

What’s the word, then?

Well, the Saints were said to be demanding what would be a world-record fee for a defender to prise their captain away from St Mary’s, and it seems they have upped the ante following a messy situation with Liverpool.

Reports emerged in a number of media outlets that the Dutchman had chosen to link up with Jurgen Klopp this summer, but the Reds were forced to release a statement apologising to the south coast outfit which confirmed they had ended their interest in signing the player after they were reported to the Premier League for making an alleged illegal approach.

Now it seems Southampton are even more determined to keep hold of their skipper – who has five years remaining on his current deal – and Chelsea or Manchester City would need to pay £70m – or possibly even more – to sign Van Dijk this summer.

Would either club pay it?

It’s difficult to say.

While both Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola are known to be admirers of the 25-year-old – who has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League since moving to St Mary’s two years ago – they may feel they could get better value elsewhere.

The Blues are said to have targeted Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci while Guardiola will be assessing his options and whether he desperately needs another centre-back to compete with the likes of Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi.

Is he worth the price tag?

While he is obviously a great player, is great in the air, comfortable on the ball and has his best years ahead of him, he probably isn’t worth £70m – a fee which is £20m more than the £50m Chelsea paid for David Luiz last summer.

But of course with the ever-increasing transfer fees and the fact that he has five years left on his contract, Southampton are entitled to ask for what they feel is a fair valuation of their player and one they want to keep.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, with a move to Liverpool seemingly unlikely and Man City or Chelsea unlikely to pay the £70m that Southampton want for Van Dijk, he could find himself staying at St Mary’s at least until the January transfer window.

Whether he is willing to get his head down or go the other way and hand in a transfer request remains to be seen.