Liverpool and Everton have recently been linked with a mega money deal for Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk which has prompted his manager Claude Puel to publicly respond to the speculation.
Basically Puel has stated that van Dijk should stay with the Saints and if he does so, he will become one of the top six best defenders in football.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday’s EFL Cup quarter final at Arsenal, Puel said
“Van Dijk is a great player now. But he has a contract with Southampton and it is important he stays to continue his work.
“We can see the good work on the pitch and we can see all the good players making progress.
“I enjoy Virgil for his work and he has developed very well since the beginning of the season with extra responsibilities and physically and technically.
“He must become one of the best five or six defenders in the world. He has the capacity. It is important he continues with stability and Southampton is a good club for him.”
All that may well be true, but you can be assured that both Liverpool and Everton will claim that they can do the exact same for the Dutchman, that if he joins them that they will help him become one of the worlds best defenders.
Southampton have a history of seeing their best talent leave and prosper, the likes of Adam Lallana, Theo Walcott and of course Gareth Bale immediately spring to mind, so not sure that Puels words will be enough to convince the defender to remain at St Mary’s.