Virgil van Dijk has praised the potential of one-time Liverpool target Evan Ferguson.
Ferguson is one of the Premier League’s most promising young stars. Having burst onto the scene for Brighton last year, the 18-year-old hit a hat-trick against Newcastle before the international break.
Now away with Republic of Ireland, Ferguson was preparing to come up against Van Dijk and the Netherlands tomorrow. However, Extra Time report that injury will rule the young striker out of the game.
Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the Liverpool captain from praising Ferguson in the build up.
“If you score a hat-trick just before the international break, then he was going to be full of confidence,” said Van Dijk. “He looks like he is a promising striker for Ireland now and into the future. That is a big blow for them but whoever comes and plays tomorrow, we have to be ready to fight.”
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Van Dijk praises promising Ferguson
With every goal he scores, Liverpool’s failure to snap Ferguson up looks even more costly.
The teenager has already spoken to GOAL of how he turned the Reds down in order to move to Brighton as a 16-year-old.
Had they managed to get him then, Liverpool would have had a star in the making.
Perhaps they’ll still try again for the Irishman. But now, with the Premier League goals flying in, it seems like when he does leave the South Coast, his price-tag is going to be out of Liverpool’s reach.
With Manchester City reportedly now lurking in a bid to pair Ferguson with Erling Haaland, the signs are looking ominous.
Had he come up against Van Dijk next week, we’d have been given another little insight into what Ferguson’s current level is.
Instead, we’ll have to wait to see how he deals with the best defender of his generation. Pass that test when it comes, and the hype train will get out of control.