Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk will undergo showdown talks with Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino this week.
The centre-back did not travel on Southampton's pre-season tour to France last week, after he told Pellegrino of his desire to join Liverpool , report the Liverpool Echo .
The Dutchman is under contract at St Mary's until 2022 and has been told he must train on his own until he accepts the club's position that he is not for sale.
The Saints squad have now returned to their Staplewood training base, Pellegrino is hoping that the £60million-rated centre-back will back down so he can be reintegrated with his team-mates.
However, if Van Dijk continues to push for a move then Saints will have a big decision to make with the new Premier League campaign less than a fortnight away.
Whatever happens, Van Dijk is going to be short of match fitness come the big kick-off. He hasn't played since suffering a season-ending ankle injury in January.
If Saints are prepared to listen to offers for Van Dijk then Liverpool are prepared to shatter their transfer record to take the 26-year-old to Anfield.