Phil Thompson is being cautious about Liverpool’s move to sign Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool ended 2017 by finally getting their man, spending £75 million to sign Virgil van Dijk from Southampton.
Van Dijk immediately strengthen’s Liverpool defence, but Reds’ legend Phil Thompson is preaching caution.
Thompson says that Van Dijk is not vocal enough, and the Reds must sign a defender who is more of a leader.
He said: “I’ve said all along, I don’t think Virgil van Dijk is going to answer all of our problems. He’s not an organiser, he’s not a shouter and screamer, he’s more in the realms of a Alan Hansen, Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher or myself.
“So I still think in the January or the summer another centre-back, a real aggressor, is required. I don’t think we should put too much pressure on Van Dijk to resolve it and the goalkeeping situation still needs to be looked at.”
Liverpool fans would have hoped that for £75 million they would have bought a defender with the attributes Thompson describes, and there is still a chance for the Dutchman to grow into this role.
Signing another defender would though alleviate some of the pressure on Van Dijk, but Liverpool must attempt to try and find a bargain, after paying so much to land the former Celtic defender.
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