When discussing transfer fees, we should always remember three things.

1. In this current era, money is no object in the Premier League. Bottom side Sunderland received £93m in prize money last term! That’s shows you that it’s all bonkers.
2. If you are buying from another side in the Premier League then it’s going to cost you a ridiculous price because the selling team already has a massive amount of cash in their bank account. So it will always cost you more to shop at home.
3. Fans are always pretty biased. The buying club will always say they’ve got a good deal, while their rivals will always ridicule the fee and state it’s far too high.

This summer we will see plenty of transfer rumours, with supporters looking to bet on who their team will bring in and how they will do next term. You can get the best betting deals at Free Bets UK.

If reports are to be believed then Liverpool are about to win the race for the highly rated Virgil van Dijk.

The Dutch international defender has supposedly told his current employers Southampton that he’d like to leave the south coast and join the Merseyside club.

A fee of £60m has been widely mentioned. Today it was even reported that the Saints want as much as £75m for their prize asset.

Those are both eye-watering sums but I think a fee between £50m and £60m could be a decent one for the central defender.

Van Dijk has been one of the English top flight’s best performing centre-backs since he arrived in England from Celtic back in 2015.

Since moving to St Mary’s, he’s managed to score seven times in sixty-eight appearances. Last season he made on average around two tackles per game and 2.6 interceptions. His clearance record was up a around 6.8 per Premier League game. Those were better stats than Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren had for Liverpool last year.

His passing success rate was up into the mid-eighties and that’s in line with what Jurgen Klopp wants from his defensive players.

I think going and getting Virgil would be a real coup for the Reds.

They’ll be getting a proven Premier League talent. They’ll also be getting a player used to European competition and one that has met every challenge head on and been a success at every stage of his career.

Liverpool need a centre-back who remains composed and who can win most of his aerial battles.  You still look at the Liverpool backline and wonder if they’re suspect at dealing with crosses. You don’t get that feeling when you watch Van Dijk play. He also offer a threat when inside the opposition penalty area.

I’d imagine that Van Dijk would come in and replace Croat Lovren. That to me is an upgrade and that’s what any top four side is looking for when they spend big on a first team recruit. Dejan still makes too many costly errors at the back and Virgil would come in with more assured performances.

The signing of Virgil van Dijk would also be marquee signing. It would represent Liverpool beating the likes of Manchester City and champions Chelsea to a big name player. Their respective fans will state that Klopp has spent too much but their managers clearly wanted Van Dijk.

When you think that Man City paid around £47m on John Stones, based on potential and ball playing skills, then is £60m for Van Dijk really so ridiculous? At least he’s a defender who can defend.

To challenge for league titles and to make a fist of it in the Champions League then Liverpool need to come out and make impact signings during this off-season. They also need to improve on their defensive unit.

Signing a player of Virgil van Dijk’s calibre will improve Jurgen Klopp’s squad and it should also enthuse the support at Anfield.

Ultimately you can only judge a signing after the event, probably at the end of their first season. If Liverpool are in a better league position,doing well in Europe and Van Dijk’s playing well then he’ll be worth the money!

It really is a simple as that.

 

Posted on June 7th, 2017 by scott
Filed under: Article