Brendan Rodgers: I was warned from signing this currently Liverpool linked player
By Harvey Byrne
Former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has shared that he was told not to sign currently linked defender Virgil van Dijk when he was manager.
Dutch publication De Telegraaf claimed in January that the Reds scouts were watching the Holland international play this season.
He was also heavily linked with a move to Merseyside in the winter window, but it is believed that the south coast outfit want a mega-fee for their star player.
It could have been a lot different for Liverpool however, with ex-manager Rodgers sharing that he was warned off signing Van Dijk while the defender was at Groningen.
“It’s about where the player is at, at the time of their ability,” told Rodgers, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo.
“Virgil van Dijk could have jumped from Celtic to a Liverpool. Some clubs will want to see the players tested at certain arenas first.
“But if there is enough belief in the player then that counts. The key for scouting is trying to predict when the player is peaking.
“You could see with van Dijk that he was quick, strong, good on the ball and decent in the air.”
“So what more do you need to see? You could see him playing international football and, okay, clubs may want to see him in Champions League.
“Wanyama left and then made the jump but he was a good player at Celtic, showing up well in the Champions League.
“There is maybe an issue with scouts.
“When I was at Liverpool I asked about van Dijk and he was at Groningen and then at Celtic. But I was told he wouldn’t be for us at the time.”
Rodgers was manager of Liverpool for three years between 2012 and 2015 it is largely considered that he failed to strengthen the weak defence despite taking the Merseyside giants to a second place finish.
Meanwhile, Van Dijk is considered one of the best centre-backs in England’s top flight after making a £13million switch from Celtic in the summer of 2015.
Liverpool have often had some joy in bringing players in from Southampton, but given the clubs Van Dijk is attracting alongside his contract which expires in 2022 the Reds may struggle to bring him in.
In other Liverpool transfer news, the Reds are looking to solve this problem area with £30million-rated Premier League winner.
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