With Liverpool reportedly set to sign Virgil van Dijk for £70m, Southampton are apparently eyeing up Calum Chambers as a replacement.

  • Southampton want Chambers back as Van Dijk replacement
  • Chambers signed from Southampton in 2014 for £16m
  • Defender wants regular playing time

Chambers signed for Arsenal from Southampton for £16m three years ago and already the south coast club are apparently looking at bringing the 22-year-old back.

While the Saints were at first linked with a loan move for the defender, they’re now said to be eyeing him as a replacement for Van Dijk, who looks set to complete a £70m move to Liverpool, despite the Merseyside club allegedly using dodgy methods to try and sign him earlier in the summer.

Chambers enjoyed a successful loan spell at Middlesbrough last season and has insisted that going forward he needs regular playing time if he’s going to continue to develop.

“This season, personally for me, I was a bit frustrated I couldn’t help keep Middlesbrough in the Premier League,” Chambers told talkSPORT.

“Going there and doing a year on loan with them, it’s a great club; the players all welcomed me in really well.

“I had a thoroughly enjoyable year there; I played regularly and got some valuable experiences that I’m gaining from.

“In this tournament I feel the experiences I got this year and the game time I got this year are helping me and I want to take that forward.

“Next season I want to do the same. I want to play football, and I think it’s vital at this age – as a young player – to play as many games as possible to get experience.”

He’s been impressing while away with the England u21s at the UEFA European u21 Championship in Poland.

Newcastle and Everton are also said to be interested.

His contract doesn’t run out until 2020.