Virgil van Dijk: Football Whispers tells you everything you need to know about the Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea target
Saints are adamant they will not sell the Dutch defender, but that hasn't stopped a host of Euro giants from readying bids
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IF there’s one player topping more managers’ wish lists that any other this January, it’s Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk.
The 25-year-old Dutchman has impressed so much since his 2015 move from Celtic that he is now widely regarded as one of the finest defenders in Europe.
It has been reported that Van Dijk is a target for Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, with a potential fee of as much as £55million.
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But what is it about the 12-cap Netherlands star that has got some of the best managers in the game clamouring for his signature? have delved into his statistics to find out.
Van Dijk’s technical quality was in evidence from his very first appearance as a professional footballer, when he was used as an emergency striker for Groningen in a 4-2 victory over ADO Den Haag in April 2011.
He was soon moved back to his natural central defensive position, and quickly marked himself out as the most promising young defender in the Eredivisie, demonstrating superb calmness on the ball and, despite his tender years, strong leadership qualities.
Celtic came knocking in June 2013, and moved quickly to seal a £2.6m deal to take Van Dijk to the East End of Glasgow.
In two seasons at Celtic Park, the Dutch defender helped the Bhoys secure two Scottish Premier League titles and a Scottish League Cup.
He also got his first taste of Champions League football with the Hoops, turning out six times in Europe’s premier club competition as well as making eight Europa League outings.
As van Dijk continued to develop in Scotland, it became clear that his immense quality and potential would see him move south of the border before too long, and Southampton forked out a reported £13m to land the 6ft 4ins stopper in the summer of 2015.
Victor Wanyama’s success following his 2013 move from Celtic had shown the Saints that value and quality could be found in the SPL, but few anticipated just how quickly van Dijk would adapt to the demands of the Premier League.
By the end of his first season at St. Mary’s, the Breda-born star had been named the club’s player of the year and rewarded with a bumper new six-year contract.
And this season has seen van Dijk continue to impress. So much so that Southampton will likely have to resist some substantial offers if they are to keep hold of him.
Key to van Dijk’s rise to becoming one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League has been his consistency and well-rounded skill set.
Modern centre-halves are expected to not only carry out their defensive duties, but also instigate attacking moves from the back with accurate forward passes.
Van Dijk has shown himself to be more than capable of having an impact with the ball at his feet: His five completed key passes this season ranks him third among Premier League defenders, while his average of 0.3 key passes per game is the sixth best in his position.
He also makes an average of 4.9 accurate long balls per match, which can only be bettered by eight central defenders in England’s top division.
Perhaps van Dijk’s most striking attributes are his physical strength and athleticism.
Given his towering height, the player’s prowess in the air is not wholly surprising, and with an average of 4.7 successful aerial duels per game — which only Manchester City’s Nicolas Otamendi can better of all the Premier League’s centre-backs — it’s easy to see why the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola would want him to sure up their back-lines.
His impeccable reading of the game has led to him making 50 interceptions so far this term, which ranks fourth in his position, and his 39 successful tackles is the third-best of all Premier League centre-backs, while his 129 clearances puts him ninth.
Although van Dijk does not rank first in any of these metrics, the fact that he is in the top five or top 10 in so many shows that he is as well-rounded as it is possible for a defender to be.
With the modern centre-back expected to be heavily involved in every phase of play, van Dijk is the perfect man for the job.