Former Celtic defender Rudi Vata says the club need to find the next Virgil van Dijk, so here are three possible options.
Former Celtic defender Rudi Vata says that the Scottish champions have never properly replaced Virgil van Dijk after his sale to Southampton in 2015.
Kristoffer Ajer had an impressive season in 2017/18, while Dedryck Boyata, Marvin Compper, Jozo Simunovic and Erik Sviatchenko are all options at centre-back, but Vata says the Bhoys need to unearth a big star.
“Celtic need to find another like van Dijk and I’d imagine, if they do the right scouting, they can find one out in Europe,” the Albanian, who played for the Glasgow club between 1993 and 1996, told the Daily Record.
“In leagues like Holland or Belgium, there will be some there. Countries where they don’t need to spend big money.
“They have done it in the past and I can’t see why they won’t be able to do it again.”
Van Dijk was signed from Groningen aged 21 so here are three other young Dutch centre-backs that could fit the bill.
Armando Obispo
The captain of PSV Eindhoven Under-21s, Obispo was given his opportunity by manager Phillip Cocu in the first team in 2017/18 and has made two appearances to date.
The 19-year-old is highly thought of at the Philips Stadion, however, so convincing him to switch Scotland could prove tricky.
Kik Pierie
Still only 17-years-old but already with 36 senior games under his belt having enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Heerenveen over the past 12 months.
Linked with Manchester United by the Daily Star earlier this year, Pierie admitted to Dutch publication Leeuwarder Courant that a transfer to a Champions League club in the future does interest him.
Rick van Drongelen
Not currently playing in the Eredivisie having joined Hamburg from Sparta Rotterdam last summer, Van Drongelen will be in 2. Bundesliga next campaign following his new team’s relegation from the German top flight for the first time in their history.
A strong and physical presence like Van Dijk, Van Drongelen could well be tempted by a move to Parkhead considering their lure of European football.
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