Virgil van Dijk

Steady on, he's not really proven himself as yet, has he? Unless you consider his performances in our Champions League campaign in 2013/14 to be indicative of someone who's pushing the best centre backs in the world?

He's looked excellent in Scottish football, which, whilst not as poor as some outside the country would have you believe, certainly isn't a proving ground.

As for his European performances? He's been part of a side that hasn't been hitting the heights, and part of a defence that shipped 14 goals in 6 games when we last made the Champions League proper.

He's unproven at the top level, which is why he's attracting the clubs that he is. if he was a player who could be pushing the best central defenders in the world game with a little bit of improvement he'd be on the radar of clubs bigger than Southampton.

Could he become a real talent? Yeah, no doubt. but we really have to see him competing with top class forwards on a regular basis before we know exactly how good he is.

 

I stopped reading there because it doesn't reflect what I said. I said if he improves much more. Meaning he still has improving to do to even push the best.

And btw he was by far our best outfield player in the campaign.

 

Aye, It was definitely easier to look good in the side with Henrik in it. There were less 'back to the walls' performances and we could routinely attack teams, particualrly at Celtic Park.

Ultimately though I don't think his CL performances this far have been outstanding. If you break down his individual characteristics - strong, fast, excellent in possession, dominant in the air, goal threat even from distance - he really has it all. He just needs to show it at the top level more before he can be thought of as one of the best of the last decade imo.

 

There are mitigating circumstances for every team that ships goals though, aren't there? Be it losing players to injury, not being as good as they were the year before and so on.

The fact is he was part of that defence, and when clubs are looking at him they'll not be judging him so much for the way he strolls through games against Thistle, but more how he does in Europe, and truth is he hasn't really been all that great, which is why he's still unproven.

He's not even in that kind of discussion at the moment. Far from it.

Okay, he was the best player in a really poor team.

 

Edited*


The big man is class but I think with comparisons and saying he's not far from the best cb in the world are too far/ridiculous.

Hoping we get more than £10 million when he goes and we'll miss him for sure.

 

A big transfer fee of over £10m along with a sizeable sell-on fee attached.

 

Legend

 

Southampton still in for him, if they want him 20mil or no deal, they paid £12 million for Shane Long

 

BBC reporting it! Must be pretty viable this time! * that, after Champions League at least.

 

Best defender we've had in my life time, don't want to sell him for any realistic price. Absolutely love the guy.

 

As long as there's an equal to replace him and a hefty transfer fee (must eclipse what they paid for big Vic!) with a sell on clause!
I'll be gutted to see him go, as we should be building our team around our best players! But we're unfortunately constrained due to the league we play in and resources we attract as a result!
It's also a bit disappointing, as did Virgil not say he'd only leave for a CL team, or one with the potential to be?
HH

 

I have no doubt we will get at least 10 million for him mulgrew will drop back in to defence and we will sign a centre back whos young with potential to replace him and hope for the best.

 

If we get £10M for Virgil and brought in that John Soutar of Dundee United I would be very happy with that.

Still sad to see Virgal go though.

 

Souttar as a replacement for Virgil

 

According to Twitter he's for the off

 

Imagine Southampton with a spine of FF, VVD and Victor. Jesus wept.

 

Link ?

 

Celtic should set a price of 20 million or fek off. One of those rich clubs will pay it..

 

No real link just bloggers basically saying he's good as gone

That's if you want to believe Twitter


@Celticnewsnow: SPFL transfer latest: #Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk to join Southampton, Aston Villa chase young Scotsman http://t.co/cj95NpAwIy