Liverpool really love Southampton players. Don’t they? In the last few years, Southampton have been the breeding ground for some of the biggest talents in the Premier League and also the hunting ground for the bigger clubs. Manchester United and Arsenal have also made raids on the ambitious South Coast club but Liverpool have signed as many five players from the Saints in the last three years.
The Reds have signed Rickie Lambert, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Nathaniel Clyne and most recently Sadio Mane from Southampton and it seems like they are hot on the tail for another Southampton star.
The Liverpool Echo are reporting that Liverpool have identified Southampton stopper Virgil van Dijk as the potential solution to their defensive woes and could make a mega-money bid for the Dutch international as early as January.
With the form Liverpool have shown this season, the talks has already started that they are realistic title contenders but if you take a look at their defensive figures, you are bound to have a second thought. Among the top eight right now, Liverpool have conceded the most number of goals i.e. 13. Jürgen Klopp’s men are scoring for fun but the German gaffer also needs to address things at the other end.
Dejan Lovren’s dreadful mistake against Crystal Palace last week was made up later by the Croat but you have to avoid such mishaps if you are aiming for the biggest prize in English football. Virgil van Dijk has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premier League since he joined Southampton from Celtic in the summer of 2015. His nine ‘man of the match’ awards since the start of the 2015-16 season speaks for how solid the Dutch stopper has been at the heart of the defence.
Van Dijk is more of a complete defender who possesses each and every skill a defender dreams of. Thanks to his frame of 6 ft 4 in, he excels in the air which is evident from his 3.8 aerials won every game.
The Dutchman has an excellent passing ability for a defender, something Klopp loves to see in his defenders. His passing accuracy this season has been 85.4%.
Liverpool play a very high line and their defenders often burst forward to help their attackers which make them vulnerable on the break. Van Dijk’s brilliant recovery pace and concentration can make him the first choice over Dejan Lovren and an ideal partner for Joel Matip. Liverpool might have to break the bank for the signing of the Dutch international but it will be one hell of a deal from the Reds.
