Liverpool fans have reacted after it was announced that the Reds will be signing Southampton defender Virgil Van Dijk on January 1, 2018, for a club record fee of £75m. Jurgen Klopp has finally got his man following their relentless pursuit of the player over the summer.
The Dutch centre-back will become the most expensive defender in the history of world football and will officially sign for the Merseysiders when the transfer window opens next month. Various sources are claiming that the 26-year-old underwent a medical on Wednesday and has already posed holding a Liverpool jersey in front of a Christmas tree.
When asked about whether the Dutch international was a better defender than Jamie Carragher himself, the Liverpool legend who featured in 668 matches for the Reds sent out a tweet saying: “Better in the air than me, quicker than me, more composed and doesn’t score own goals!”
Better in the air than me, quicker than me, more composed & doesn’t score own goals! https://t.co/Bei5IquMSw
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) December 27, 2017
Empire of the Kop insisted that the fee shouldn’t be an issue: “To the people crying about £75m, don’t. It’s not your money. It’s TV money. Every club has it in bundles. The trick was convincing him to sign in the first place. The trick is Jurgen Klopp, so if he’s done his job, don’t worry about the money. £75m is what £30m was in 2011.”
To the people crying about £75m, don't. It's not your money. It's TV money. Every club has it in bundles. The trick was convincing him to sign in the first place. The trick is Jurgen Klopp, so if he's done his job, don't worry about the money. £75m is what £30m was in 2011.
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) December 27, 2017
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/946073351444975618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.liverpoolecho.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Ffootball-news%2Fvirgil-van-dijk-reaction-zero-14086572
The five-time European champions will hand him the number four jersey and the Kopites from all over the world are getting excited about their new signing along with football pundits who weigh in on who got the better end of the deal?
Never mind the obvious defensive benefits but #Lfc have just signed another player who will score double figures in a season to support the Fab Four😉 #bonus pic.twitter.com/AjSwf8qcKn
— ⭐️LFC blogster⭐️ (@LFCblogster) December 27, 2017
However, some Reds supporters like Paul Snowdon was not convinced by the inflated prices in Premier League football, declaring: “It’s just more money madness, though. No way is a central defender worth £75m. This bubble is surely going to burst one day – in perhaps the not so distant future.
It’s just more money madness, though. No way is a central defender worth £75m. This bubble is surely going to burst one day – in perhaps the not so distant future. #VirgilVanDijk #LFC #LiverpoolFC #Liverpool https://t.co/QUysIR5DHm
— Paul Snowdon (@67Snowy) December 27, 2017
£75m?
£180.000 a week?The VVD move will set a new standard for central defenders. pic.twitter.com/9mUQLbNerZ
— Kristof Terreur (@kristofterreur) December 27, 2017
One fan was even reduced to tears as it was announced that Virgil Van Dijk has signed for Liverpool.
https://twitter.com/MattOrdish/status/946076450960142338
And then, there was time for some humour as well.
https://twitter.com/brutalpool/status/946092261149835264
The reporters from Liverpool has made their comments on the signing and it has come with some mixed reviews from Liverpool supporters.
Jack Lusby reporting for This is Anfield, pointed out: “Virgil van Dijk is by far the best centre-back Liverpool could have hoped to sign, so have zero qualms with the £75 million. Especially since it’s offset by us signing Mo Salah for under half-price.”
It remains to be seen whether the signing of Virgil Van Dijk turns out to be a success at Anfield but Liverpool has finally got their long-time target and will now hope to climb up the Premier League table with a well-equipped defence.
