Virgil van Dijk: Liverpool sign Southampton defender for world record £75m

[Gerry_A_Trick]

[article="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42496637"]
Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk will join Liverpool when the transfer window re-opens on 1 January in a world record £75m deal.
The Netherlands international had been expected to join the Reds last summer after he handed in a transfer request.

But a move fell through when Liverpool apologised for making an alleged illegal approach for the 26-year-old.

The fee is the most ever paid for a defender - Manchester City paid £52m to Monaco for Benjamin Mendy in July.

Van Dijk said in a statement he was "delighted and honoured" to sign for the Merseyside club and accepted he had had a "difficult last few months" at St Mary's.

He was left out of Southampton's squad for their 5-2 Premier League defeat by Tottenham on Tuesday, prompting speculation he was set to leave the club.

"Southampton have agreed a fee that will set a new world record for a defender," the south coast club confirmed on Wednesday.

The player only signed a new six-year contract last year, having joined the Saints from Celtic for £13m in September 2015.

However, Liverpool's interest in the summer prompted a transfer request from the player which saw him forced to train alone by manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

He returned to first team action in September, featuring in a win at Crystal Palace.
Van Dijk's former club Celtic will benefit from the record transfer fee - the Scottish champions are understood to have had a 10% sell-on agreement on any future deal.

Though he will join the club on 1 January, Van Dijk will not be able to register as a player until 2 January so will not be available for Liverpool's trip to Burnley on Monday.

The Anfield club also announced he will wear the number four shirt.
The Van Dijk fee tops the £48m release clause the Reds have agreed for RB Leipzig midfielder Naby Keita, who will move to Anfield next summer.

'Proud to join one of biggest clubs in world' - Van Dijk statement

"Delighted and honoured to have agreed to become a Liverpool FC player. Today is a proud day for me and my family as I join one of the biggest clubs in world football.

"I can't wait to pull on the famous red shirt for the first time in front of the Kop and will give everything I have to try and help this great club achieve something special in the years to come.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Les Reed, the board, manager, players, fans and everyone at Southampton.

"I will always be indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity to play in the Premier League and despite a difficult last few months, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Saints and have made friends for life at the club."
[/article]

 

[Mystic]

In fairness club loyalty aside he'd be an idiot to choose us over City if they come calling.

Better team, better football, better defence, better tactics, better coach, guaranteed silverware and more money.

It's not even a remotely difficult choice for him

 

[keniget]

Madness

 

[the count]

Are we spending the Coutinho money I wonder?

 

[Modo]

Well then Klopp is handling it. Again £75 mill yeesh...
Now where can we find a DM for 5 quid?

 

[Woland]

My bird fancies him

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

First offer of 90m plus Lovren was refused

 

[dee]

Well that killed the site for an hour or two!!

So I guess this place will explode after his first error


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[localny]

I know nothing about him as a player. Obviously no player is worth this money. Imagine he's a $25M signing. Would you be delighted with him?

 

[gkmacca]

I think this suggests that the club was very sure of getting him in spite of the delay, which tends to support the idea that it was worth the wait rather than rushing to buy an 'alternative' for a few months. Klopp will now be judged on this, and I'd much rather that than the many cases of Rafa bringing in players he didn't really want only to excuse himself when they didn't work on the grounds that he didn't really want them.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

Only twice the price of Andy Carroll and bound to be involved in a lot more goals

 

[mom]

Are we spending the Coutinho money I wonder?

Nah



Just half of it

 

[Modo]

First offer of 90m plus Lovren was refused

Was that basically us paying them to take Lovren?

 

[localny]

I think this suggests that the club was very sure of getting him in spite of the delay, which tends to support the idea that it was worth the wait rather than rushing to buy an 'alternative' for a few months. Klopp will now be judged on this, and I'd much rather that than the many cases of Rafa bringing in players he didn't really want only to excuse himself when they didn't work on the grounds that he didn't really want them.

Well said. We've tried this approach for 20 plus years since we became comparative paupers to other big clubs. Splash on who we want and let's see what happens.

Is he good in your view Macca?

 

[Woland]

You reckon we need another one?

 

[Woland]

I mean we might as well flog Lovren, if he's got any value.

 

[Woland]

 

[737Max]

Was that basically is paying paying them to take Lovren?

I think you missed the joke Modo

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[darkstarexodus]

Despite some concerns, now that he's here let's get behind him and hope he's deserving of the number 4 shirt.

 

[Gerry_A_Trick]

I think you missed the joke Modo

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And it's not exactly a new joke..

 

[gene hughes]

Is Klopp the first person to ever lose £15m in Blackpool?

 

[Jürgen4PM]

Pleased that the club has backed Klopp here......just hope that it's not at the expense of Coutinho.

Welcome and good luck Virgil!

 

[Piedro]

My apologies to JJ [emoji23]

 

[Markeh]

So the firm were right!

You know what'd be nice, bringing in a good keeper now too and building a unit we're going to stick with for most games.

 

[dee]

Right.

We need a poll for everyone to pin their colours. If for no other reason than to make it easier for Rosco to go back and quote :-D


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[dee]

So the firm were right!

You know what'd be nice, bringing in a good keeper now too and building a unit we're going to stick with for most games.

Yepp £40m for a new keeper ..... oh and £15m to spring Naby early.

Let’s get that a Leeds feeling


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[ibromurph]

This is Klopp's first big money defensive signing. I'm excited.


He addresses a number of problems we have in that area.

1) He's a leader. We need that. Badly. I wonder how long before he's made captain.

2) He can also play out of the back as well as switch play. Against "bus parking" defences, this will help, when we need penetrating passes.

3) He can dribble with the ball. Again, good for beating the bus.

4) He's one of the best in the league in the air. That's a good sign in both boxes and at set pieces.

5) We won't get bullied anymore by the "big CF" ala Benteke. We usually struggle against this CF type. VVD is a bit of a specimen himself.

6) He's a "number 1" CB (commanding, talkative; a leader). Right now we have a lot of number 2s in Lovren, Klavan and Matip. I suspect all their displays will go up as they compete to be his partner.

Now all we need is a class GK (35m) and DM (25m) of equal quality to match. Every other position we have comparable quality with our rivals (obv a CF would be a cherry on top of a cake). For now, I really like what Klopp is building. We need to make top 4 again, to continue this progress.

 

[dee]

Wonder what the salary is? When you know how much a club are willing to pay for you it would be rude not to press for “what you’re worth”


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[gkmacca]

Well said. We've tried this approach for 20 plus years since we became comparative paupers to other big clubs. Splash on who we want and let's see what happens.

Is he good in your view Macca?

I wouldn't pretend to know him really well but I was very impressed last season, and before, and was delighted when we went in for him in the summer. I feel we're getting a defender who'll - at last - also be a leader. It's all still to be seen, but fingers crossed!

 

[Kay Age El]

Watched him a lot last Season. He was fantastic more or less every game.

Great buy.