The Frenchman has gone on record saying he believes Van Dijk has the potential to become the world's best defender and has even made him captain for Southampton's Europa League campaign; a mark of his importance to the team on and off the pitch.

Such characters are hard to replace and while Southampton have become the masters in rebuilding from the ashes of big-name departures, many fans feel losing Van Dijk would be a bridge too far; one sale too many.

It is credit to head of football development Les Reed and his backroom team that Southampton have managed to cope with the loss of not just managers Mauricio Pochettino and Ronald Koeman but also players of the calibre Sadio Mane, Rickie Lambert, Morgan Schneiderlin and Adam Lallana.

Recording back-to-back club record Premier League points tallies against such a backdrop of uncertainty has been nothing short of a miracle, but take Van Dijk out of Puel's lineup and it is unlikely that upward momentum can continue.

The McQueen situation is a little more complex, with the 21-year-old stalling on the offer of a new contract, knowing the path to a regular first-team spot is blocked by Ryan Bertrand and fellow academy graduate Matt Targett, so Southampton may well decide to cash their chips.

But if Van Dijk continues his superb form for the rest of the campaign his reputation will only be enhanced, adding a few more zeroes to any transfer fee in the process.

Enjoy him while you have him. But Southampton must still have him to call upon beyond the next transfer window.