According to the Liverpool Echo, Micky Quinn said that Liverpool is interested in signing Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk but there are a number of factors that could rule out a move for the Dutchman.
It’s no secret that Liverpool has had issues in defence in the past and the recent sale of Martin Skrtel was a sign that Jurgen Klopp is looking to eliminate the weak links and bring in those who can strengthen his team considerably.
We are yet to see a considerable contribution from Loris Karius as the German looks to settle in the Premier League, Ragnar Klavan was always going to be used as defensive cover and little more, but it’s Joel Matip who has come in and looked like a breath of fresh air. His strength in the air, composure on the ball and more importantly, his no-nonsense approach to dealing with forwards like Diego Costa and Zlatan Ibrahimovic has garnered some serious praise from a range of ex-pros and pundits alike.
What with Mamadou Sakho extremely likely to leave the club, in the winter or summer transfer window, many feel that a new centre-back is needed and if you’re going to dabble in the market again, why not go for the best?
Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutchman, since arriving from Celtic in 2015, has cemented himself as one of the best central defenders in the division alongside Toby Alderweireld. His pace, aggression and ball-playing ability are traits that are likely to make him attractive to the Melwood coaching staff, but there are a few things that could mean this deal either isn’t on the table or can’t happen for a number of reasons.
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Firstly, the source of the news. Micky Quinn is hardly your go-to man for Liverpool’s breaking news and in Joe Rimmer’s words, “You might want to pick up a fistful of salt for this one, never mind a pinch.”
Next on the list of potential stumbling blocks, many seem to believe that Ragnar Klavan is adequate cover for Dejan Lovren and that Joe Gomez provides ample cover in the scenario both get injured, however, seeing as Liverpool look likely to become embroiled in a serious title challenge (not like the one we’ve been fantasising about since 2014) it would be wise to invest in a quality centre-half to aid in the challenge for Premier League glory.
Which brings me to my next point, how much would Liverpool actually need to fork out to land Van Dijk? With John Stones having signed for Manchester City for an unreasonable £49 million, there is every possibility that Liverpool will need to pay as much as £60 million, which is absolutely absurd.
There is also the highly unlikely scenario where Jurgen Klopp decides to keep Mamadou Sakho and rehabilitate him but every indication has pointed to the fact that Sakho’s attitude makes this almost impossible.
If there is any truth to Micky Quinn’s words then it will come down to whether or not FSG are willing to meet Southampton’s asking price and if the South Coast club will let Liverpool redeem their countless loyalty points.