Virgil van Dijk

[The_Boxing_KangaBlue]

I really would be concerned getting a CB from the SPL. No offence to the league, but the standard is below that of the championship (at least the opposition Celtic have to face certainly are) and the type of defending he has to do in the CL isn't really relevant to how we play. Every year a new collection of Celtic players get a lot of hype and most of them disappear back into obscurity. I can't see how it would be anything other than a complete gamble

Colin Hendry?

 

[Plain Speaking]

I really would be concerned getting a CB from the SPL. No offence to the league, but the standard is below that of the championship (at least the opposition Celtic have to face certainly are) and the type of defending he has to do in the CL isn't really relevant to how we play. Every year a new collection of Celtic players get a lot of hype and most of them disappear back into obscurity. I can't see how it would be anything other than a complete gamble

I understand that general reluctance but we bought VK from Anderlecht in the Dutch league that's where Virgil van Dijk was until this year. If we want to pick up a gem for a low outlay sometimes its worth taking a punt?
As I said above he came out of his CL games with credit, in a very tough group.

The very fact you said anderlecht and Dutch league means ill pass!!!!

Ha! Yes you are right big mistake! Anderlecht do indeed play in the Belgium League and sold VK to Hamburg who sold him on to us.

I have posted about us buying VK from Hamburg several times, so I think it must have been a mental aberration?

The point I was trying to make was, (with FFP increasingly important), excellent players can originate from lower level European leagues. I don't know whether Van Dijk can make it at the highest level but he shone for his club in several top CL matches. Don't let my foolish error make you dismiss the possibility of us unearthing a possible hidden gem?

 

[George Hannah]

I really would be concerned getting a CB from the SPL. No offence to the league, but the standard is below that of the championship (at least the opposition Celtic have to face certainly are) and the type of defending he has to do in the CL isn't really relevant to how we play. Every year a new collection of Celtic players get a lot of hype and most of them disappear back into obscurity. I can't see how it would be anything other than a complete gamble

Colin Hendry?

he'd a been a legend at the Eagles Big O!

 

[BlueDejong]

City Watch ‏@City_Watch 14h
Telegraph: City and United are prepared to battle for Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk (22), who is on City's list of defensive targets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/10652600/Manchester-rivals-united-in-admiration-for-Celtic-central-defender-Virgil-van-Dijk.html

Manchester rivals united in admiration for Celtic central defender Virgil van Dijk
United have joined City in tracking the progress of Celtic's highly-rated Dutch defender.

Manchester United are preparing to battle with rivals Manchester City over Celtic central defender Virgil van Dijk.
United manager David Moyes is planning a major shake-up to his United defence in the summer, with Nemanja Vidic on his way out and doubts hanging over the future of Rio Ferdinand.
Inter Milan have claimed a deal to sign Vidic is “90 per cent done” and Moyes is already plotting how the Serb will be replaced.
United are the latest club to register their interest in Van Dijk after City and Arsenal made their admiration clear by sending scouts to watch the Dutchman Van Dijk only joined Celtic for £2.6 million last June from FC Groningen, but has been a revelation for the Scottish club and impressed in the Champions League.
The 22-year-old is contracted to Celtic until 2017, but the Scottish Premiership leaders would find it difficult to turn down bids of £10 million.

Moyes looked at signing Van Dijk for Everton last season and has kept close tabs on him since succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson as United boss.
Vidic will leave Old Trafford at the end of the season, when he will be a free agent, and Inter have already made an early move.
The president of the Italian club, Erick Thohir, said: “I don’t want to announce something that’s 90 per cent done. I think it’s better to make an announcement when it’s complete. I don’t want to speak on something that’s not done yet.”
City will look to bolster their central defensive options in the summer, when Joleon Lescott’s contract expires, and have placed Van Dijk high on their list of targets.
Arsenal are planning to sign a new central defender in the summer and are interested in Van Dijk and Ajax 22-year-old Joel Veltman.
Out-of-favour club captain Thomas Vermaelen is yet to make a decision on his Arsenal future, but Napoli are pushing hard to try to take the Belgian to Italy.
Vermaelen’s Belgium international team-mate Dries Mertens is keen for the defender to join him at the San Paolo stadium.
Despite his lack of action at the Emirates, Vermaelen is settled in London and is keen to see whether he is given any encouragement that he can win back his starting place.
If his situation does not improve, then Vermaelen will consider Mertens’ pleas to join him at Napoli, while Russian club Zenit Saint Petersburg are also pursuing the 28-year-old.

 

[CityFan94]

I would like to see him here.

He would be excellent signing at 22. Just watch his performances against Barca in the Champion's League.

I know the SPL is poor, but van Dijk is a real gem. You get gems from small leagues like Belgium and Holland all the time.

He's worth a punt.

Big, strong, dominating, quick, comfortable on the ball, great in the air, young, cheap - what else do we want?

If our four centre backs next season were Kompany, Mangala, van Dijk and Nasastic.. wow!

 

[dachoosen1]

Due to squad sizes we cant take punts! DMD still has a year on his contract we will likely only bring in one CB in the summer to replace Lescott, to be honest I think Van Dijk is a very decent choice he would be a lot more reasonable priced then most of the other CBs we are linked to. The big question is would he suit our style of play and if he is capable of settling into the league. He is as big a risk as anyone including Mangala the EPL is head and shoulders above the SPL and the Primeira Liga.

 

[The_Boxing_KangaBlue]

The way I see it is this;

The SPL is a fairly rubbish league, but Celtic themselves are at least thereabouts to European standard, so their players can't be so easily discounted.

We're looking closely at Mangala who is a (recently) 23 yr old, 6'2, left-footed CB, who has played once for France as a full international and is (allegedly) valued at £38m.

We're also considering Van Dijk, who is a 22 yr old, 6'4, right-footed CB, who is yet - as far as I can tell - to play as a full international, but has been capped often at U21 level, and is valued somewhere around £10m.

Leaving aside the issue of whether we would prefer a left-sided CB to partner Vinny, the issue for me boils down to whether Mangala is £28m better than Van Dijk; both are supposedly 'commanding' and assured in possession, both have played plenty of international football, both are roughly the same age and both come from very lopsided leagues. Unless there is demonstrably a huge gap in class and ability, honestly I'd prefer the Dutchman.

With MDM very much a stop-gap, Rekik and the kids (i.e Denayer) unproven or not ready, Kompany becoming a tad injury-prone and Lescott on the way out, we could feasibly buy both, FFP notwithstanding.

Imagine a CB set of Kompany, Mangala, Van Dijk and Nastasić. Fun times.

 

[supermario]

Watched him a again on Saturday and I would be very surprised if he doesn't make a move to the premier league this summer. He was superb and made everything look extremely easy.

Granted the league isn't the best but he has all the attributes to make it in the Premier league.

I would be seriously considering signing him up as he would be a great addition to the squad.

He won everything in the air, intercepted brilliantly and his touch and passing were decent as well. He made a few runs out from the back, but I think this is more boredom as he realises he is above the current level he is playing at.

 

[The_Boxing_KangaBlue]

Problem is, would he be happy going from absolute first choice CB to squad rotation 2nd/3rd choice?

 

[ayrshire_blue]

The way I see it is this;

The SPL is a fairly rubbish league, but Celtic themselves are at least thereabouts to European standard, so their players can't be so easily discounted.

We're looking closely at Mangala who is a (recently) 23 yr old, 6'2, left-footed CB, who has played once for France as a full international and is (allegedly) valued at £38m.

We're also considering Van Dijk, who is a 22 yr old, 6'4, right-footed CB, who as yet - as far as I can tell - to play as a full international, but has been capped often at U21 level, and is valued somewhere around £10m.

Leaving aside the issue of whether we would prefer a left-sided CB to partner Vinny, the issue for me boils down to whether Mangala is £28m better than Van Dijk; both are supposedly 'commanding' and assured in possession, both have played plenty of international football, both are roughly the same age and both come from very lopsided leagues. Unless there is demonstrably a huge gap in class and ability, honestly I'd prefer the Dutchman.

With MDM very much a stop-gap, Rekik and the kids (i.e Denayer) unproven or not ready, Kompany becoming a tad injury-prone and Lescott on the way out, we could feasibly buy both, FFP notwithstanding.

Imagine a CB set of Kompany, Mangala, Van Dijk and Nastasić. Fun times.

This this this. Mangala isn't nearly 28million worth better than VVD. I absolutely despise Celtic but he's not a bad player at all, infact he's looked excellent whenever I've seen him play - Europe included.

Ideal for our playing style, composed in possession and can build from the back. A goal threat in the air.

And, he can hit a cracking free kick.