Dimitar Berbatov, the former Tottenham and Manchester United forward, says Liverpool have an advantage in the race to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax this summer, because of Virgil van Dijk.
The centre-backs know each other through playing for the Netherlands national team, and Berbatov feels Van Dijk will already be talking to the 19-year-old about coming to the Premier League.
Berbatov, via the Metro, said: “Having his international team-mate Van Dijk already in the Premier League could be a boost. The Liverpool man will be telling him how good the league is and that can make a real difference to where you choose to go.”
If he is telling him how good the league is in England, then he certainly won’t be advising him to go elsewhere.
With Dejan Lovren potentially moving on in the summer having had a difficult campaign in terms of injuries, another defender will surely be a priority for Michael Edwards this coming transfer window.
De Ligt has already spoken in glowing terms about Van Dijk recently, so hopefully, he fancies joining up with him at club level too.
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De Ligt said a couple of weeks ago: “Virgil is a player who has experience in the top leagues. Of course, you want to learn from him. It’s very useful to play next to him in the Dutch team.”
Time will tell as to whether the Reds are interested in signing the defender – but if Jurgen Klopp does want him, Berbatov might well be right when it comes to us having an advantage.