Virgil Van Dijk was an outstanding £60m defender, Liverpool fans insisted, until Southampton turned around to say he was not going anywhere. Now he’s just a regular centre-back, we’re told. Football fans can be extremely fickle but there is no way any club in its right mind would pay £60m for a defender who was unknown until three seasons ago and made his name playing in the Scottish Premier League.
It would certainly be a strange price for a man who cost Southampton £13m just two seasons ago and has made 55 appearances in a mediocre team. The inflated price tag would surprise most football fans but the lack of quality defenders for sale this transfer season has allowed the Saints to demand a crazy amount of money.
Where next?
Liverpool seems to be pushing hardest for the deal with several reports suggesting Van Dijk has told Jurgen Klopp that a move to Anfield is his favoured choice. However Manchester City is yet to make any moves for defenders and has also been linked with the big centre-half so you would expect them to get involved if Pep Guardiola is to improve his backline.
At 25 years of age and supposedly valued at £60m, VVD should be hitting his prime soon and you would assume he’d be keen to get his hands on silverware. If that is the case then a move to Merseyside is probably not right for him as Liverpool is a club in a long-term transition. Manchester City has already spent close to £100m in this transfer window, a statement of intent that should make it his most attractive option.
City should push for the Netherlands defender however I wouldn’t rule Chelsea out of the chase just yet with Antonio Conte stating a few weeks back that he needs another centre-back following John Terry’s retirement.
What can we expect?
Despite Liverpool’s need for a centre-back and Klopp’s admiration for Van Dijk, Southampton seems hell-bent to stop the deal from going ahead with reports suggesting it is even ready to report Liverpool for an illegal approach.
If that spells the end of the Merseysiders’ chase for the Saints defender it may turn out to be a bullet dodged for Liverpool as most would argue that Klopp desperately needs a number nine. With Alexandre Lacazette available he is the player Klopp should spend £60m on. Guardiola’s chase for a first Premier League title next season will need a stronger defence and I firmly believe City will stump up the cash needed to get the defender to the Etihad although I do think there are many more twists and turns in this saga.
by Nubaid Haroon YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCtMg-fWm7awR41vM1GhVOkA Twitter: twitter.com/rambofyi
The post Football: Virgil Van Dijk For £60m? appeared first on Felix Magazine.
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