LIVERPOOL FOOTBALLER,VAN DIJK,RANK MOST EXPENSIVE DEFENDER IN PREMIER LEAGUE...VIST Ameborblog.blogspot.com....for full story
The Netherlands international, signed on a five-and-a-half year
deal, is part of greater transfer strategy for the Merseysiders
Towards the end of 2016-17, as Liverpool pushed for a top-four
finish to crystallise their advancement under Jurgen Klopp, the
sketch of their recruitment strategy for the new campaign was
becoming apparent.
Their blinding, blitzing start to the season had underlined the
electrifying potential of the team, but their stretched-out
stumble at the turn of this year solidified the thinking that
pedigreed reinforcements were required.
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There were four primary objectives: reducing the dependence on
Sadio Mane by adding another speedy attacker that could
terrorise defences and make a difference in the final third;
elevating the dynamism in midfield; ensuring there was greater
competition in the squad; and bringing in an aerially dominant,
accomplished centre-back.
Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita – who links up with the
Merseysiders in the summer – and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
checked the first three priorities.
On Wednesday, the final part of that blueprint was boxed off –
albeit belatedly. Virgil van Dijk is now the world’s most
expensive defender after Liverpool and Southampton completed
a £75 million deal, which will see him officially switch to Anfield
on January 1 in a five-and-a-half year deal worth £180,000 a
week.
Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an
agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Virgil
van Dijk.
All four of the aforementioned players have eclipsed the club’s
previous record spend of £35m to swat away the theory that
owners Fenway Sports Group are not willing to back a manager
in the market.
Conspiracy theorists that suggest the head-spinning outlay for
the 26-year-old is no more than a sign that Philippe Coutinho is
off to Barcelona and his transfer fee is being emptied in
advance, should remember that Liverpool were accused of
tapping up van Dijk at the start of June, well before the
Catalans made an approach for Brazilian, which only came in the
middle of the following month.
Salah, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain and the Dutch ace were all on
the agenda ages before Neymar’s game-changing departure for
Paris Saint-Germain prompted Barca to bring forward their
long-term intention to pursue Coutinho.
Whether the masterful playmaker will still be at Liverpool when
the winter window closes remains to be seen , but what is not
currently uncertain is Klopp’s strategy of strengthening the
club’s spine.
Keita and Van Dijk, who overlooked Barcelona and Manchester
City – despite Pep Guardiola's insistence otherwise –
respectively to line up under the German, are core to this
masterplan, which is set to continue.
They are both examples of the Reds boss refusing to scroll
down a list of targets and settle for anything but the difficult-
to-prise name at the very top of it – regardless of the cost or
the time and effort needed to make it happen.
For too long, it has been the reverse for Liverpool. And for so
long, the club have had to rectify a roster made up of second,
third, fourth choices and a clear deficiency in true quality.
On Boxing Day, however, Klopp could field a bench of Loris
Karius, Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Adam Lallana,
Sadio Mane and Dominic Solanke. That is with three England
internationals in captain Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne and
Daniel Sturridge missing through respective hamstring, back
and muscle injuries, while Spain’s Alberto Moreno also nurses an
ankle problem.
Throw certain starters Keita and Van Dijk into the mix, and
Liverpool will not only be able to count on a formidable XI, but
a phenomenal reserve pool too.
Neither, of course, are a cure-all potion for the club’s
weaknesses, but they strengthen fundamental areas, which Klopp
is still intent on fortifying.
With Emre Can looking increasingly likely to depart as a free
agent at the end of the season – Juventus are in pole position
to sign him – and Coutinho’s stay on Merseyside feeling
temporary now after his five years of service, Liverpool have
designs on reinforcing the midfield.
Leon Goretzka, who has his pick of elite clubs with his Schalke
contract expiring this summer, has long been under consideration
and is set to reveal his destination next month.
Lazio’s imposing “Sergente” Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has also
been monitored, but the Serie A side are reluctant to let him
leave - expecting a fee of around £90m if he does - while the
player has insisted he’s happy in Italy.
Manchester United, Juve and PSG have all also heavily scouted
the 22-year-old, who declared in January: “Ibrahimovic is my
favourite footballer. His coach, Mourinho, is the best manager in
the world – he’s intelligent and simply great.”
Liverpool have done plenty of recon in the centre of the park,
where there are several strong options that marry with their
stylistic demands.
In an attacking sense, Thomas Lemar preferred moving to
Anfield rather than linking up with Arsenal in the summer, and
with Monaco insisting he is not on the market next month, if
they scale back their £92m valuation of the Frenchman in the
off-season, he should remain in the mix.
There has been no shortage of defensive assessment too, where
Jose Gimenez, Aymeric Laporte and Manuel Akanji are just three
attractive candidates.
There is also a decision to be made in the goalkeeping
department; the area in which Liverpool are still not punching in
the same bracket as the Manchester clubs and Chelsea.
Getting Keita and Van Dijk over the line through arduous
circumstances deserves applause and appreciation. However, as
Klopp always points out, celebrating what you’ve done is
nowhere near as important as making sure you’re prepared for
the next success.
And so, by the start of 2018-19, Liverpool’s nucleus should be as
steely as the manager’s resolve to continue reviving them
domestically and on the continent.
deal, is part of greater transfer strategy for the Merseysiders
Towards the end of 2016-17, as Liverpool pushed for a top-four
finish to crystallise their advancement under Jurgen Klopp, the
sketch of their recruitment strategy for the new campaign was
becoming apparent.
Their blinding, blitzing start to the season had underlined the
electrifying potential of the team, but their stretched-out
stumble at the turn of this year solidified the thinking that
pedigreed reinforcements were required.
RELATED
There were four primary objectives: reducing the dependence on
Sadio Mane by adding another speedy attacker that could
terrorise defences and make a difference in the final third;
elevating the dynamism in midfield; ensuring there was greater
competition in the squad; and bringing in an aerially dominant,
accomplished centre-back.
Mohamed Salah, Naby Keita – who links up with the
Merseysiders in the summer – and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
checked the first three priorities.
On Wednesday, the final part of that blueprint was boxed off –
albeit belatedly. Virgil van Dijk is now the world’s most
expensive defender after Liverpool and Southampton completed
a £75 million deal, which will see him officially switch to Anfield
on January 1 in a five-and-a-half year deal worth £180,000 a
week.
Liverpool Football Club can confirm they have reached an
agreement with Southampton for the transfer of Virgil
van Dijk.
All four of the aforementioned players have eclipsed the club’s
previous record spend of £35m to swat away the theory that
owners Fenway Sports Group are not willing to back a manager
in the market.
Conspiracy theorists that suggest the head-spinning outlay for
the 26-year-old is no more than a sign that Philippe Coutinho is
off to Barcelona and his transfer fee is being emptied in
advance, should remember that Liverpool were accused of
tapping up van Dijk at the start of June, well before the
Catalans made an approach for Brazilian, which only came in the
middle of the following month.
Salah, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain and the Dutch ace were all on
the agenda ages before Neymar’s game-changing departure for
Paris Saint-Germain prompted Barca to bring forward their
long-term intention to pursue Coutinho.
Whether the masterful playmaker will still be at Liverpool when
the winter window closes remains to be seen , but what is not
currently uncertain is Klopp’s strategy of strengthening the
club’s spine.
Keita and Van Dijk, who overlooked Barcelona and Manchester
City – despite Pep Guardiola's insistence otherwise –
respectively to line up under the German, are core to this
masterplan, which is set to continue.
They are both examples of the Reds boss refusing to scroll
down a list of targets and settle for anything but the difficult-
to-prise name at the very top of it – regardless of the cost or
the time and effort needed to make it happen.
For too long, it has been the reverse for Liverpool. And for so
long, the club have had to rectify a roster made up of second,
third, fourth choices and a clear deficiency in true quality.
On Boxing Day, however, Klopp could field a bench of Loris
Karius, Dejan Lovren, Joe Gomez, James Milner, Adam Lallana,
Sadio Mane and Dominic Solanke. That is with three England
internationals in captain Jordan Henderson, Nathaniel Clyne and
Daniel Sturridge missing through respective hamstring, back
and muscle injuries, while Spain’s Alberto Moreno also nurses an
ankle problem.
Throw certain starters Keita and Van Dijk into the mix, and
Liverpool will not only be able to count on a formidable XI, but
a phenomenal reserve pool too.
Neither, of course, are a cure-all potion for the club’s
weaknesses, but they strengthen fundamental areas, which Klopp
is still intent on fortifying.
With Emre Can looking increasingly likely to depart as a free
agent at the end of the season – Juventus are in pole position
to sign him – and Coutinho’s stay on Merseyside feeling
temporary now after his five years of service, Liverpool have
designs on reinforcing the midfield.
Leon Goretzka, who has his pick of elite clubs with his Schalke
contract expiring this summer, has long been under consideration
and is set to reveal his destination next month.
Lazio’s imposing “Sergente” Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has also
been monitored, but the Serie A side are reluctant to let him
leave - expecting a fee of around £90m if he does - while the
player has insisted he’s happy in Italy.
Manchester United, Juve and PSG have all also heavily scouted
the 22-year-old, who declared in January: “Ibrahimovic is my
favourite footballer. His coach, Mourinho, is the best manager in
the world – he’s intelligent and simply great.”
Liverpool have done plenty of recon in the centre of the park,
where there are several strong options that marry with their
stylistic demands.
In an attacking sense, Thomas Lemar preferred moving to
Anfield rather than linking up with Arsenal in the summer, and
with Monaco insisting he is not on the market next month, if
they scale back their £92m valuation of the Frenchman in the
off-season, he should remain in the mix.
There has been no shortage of defensive assessment too, where
Jose Gimenez, Aymeric Laporte and Manuel Akanji are just three
attractive candidates.
There is also a decision to be made in the goalkeeping
department; the area in which Liverpool are still not punching in
the same bracket as the Manchester clubs and Chelsea.
Getting Keita and Van Dijk over the line through arduous
circumstances deserves applause and appreciation. However, as
Klopp always points out, celebrating what you’ve done is
nowhere near as important as making sure you’re prepared for
the next success.
And so, by the start of 2018-19, Liverpool’s nucleus should be as
steely as the manager’s resolve to continue reviving them
domestically and on the continent.
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