Southampton almost signed Eric Bailly instead of Virgil van Dijk, according to Charlie Nicholas.
Pundit Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports (12:59) that Southampton almost signed Eric Bailly from Villarreal in 2015 before landing Virgil van Dijk instead.
The Saints may have lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, but their defence has been one of the best in the Premier League so far this season.
Southampton manager Claude Puel and Virgil van Dijk
With just ten goals conceded in ten games, only four teams have conceded fewer goals in the Premier League this season and manager Claude Puel will be delighted with his side’s defensive displays.
A key part of that back line is Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk, who was signed by previous boss Ronald Koeman as a replacement for Toby Alderweireld back in the summer of 2015.
The 6ft 4in centre back is clearly one of the Premier League’s best centre backs, possessing superb pace, strength, aerial prowess and technical ability, whilst his positional awareness has come on leaps and bounds since being teamed up with veteran defender Jose Fonte.
Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk in action with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero
Van Dijk has been a revelation for Southampton since joining from Celtic, but one pundit has shared a story on how the Saints almost signed a different defender.
Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports that one of his former Aberdeen team-mates now works as a scout for Southampton, and told him that the Saints almost signed Eric Bailly instead.
The Ivorian was playing for Spanish side Villarreal at the time, and has since completed a blockbuster move to Manchester United, where he has shown glimpses of becoming a top-class centre back – and Nicholas hailed Southampton for their cleverness in the transfer market.
Manchester United’s Eric Bailly in action with Hull City’s Abel Hernandez
“A former team-mate of mine from Aberdeen is one of their Spanish scouts and he identifies Spain and Portugal, and he was telling me, Southampton have more scouts than anybody else touring Europe,” said Nicholas.
“They nearly bought Eric Bailly, who went to Man Utd. They ended up not buying him because they decided to sign Virgil van Dijk. They are very clever. They have every angle covered and they have that sensational academy too so you couldn’t get a better balance than what they have,” he added.
Would you have liked to see Southampton sign Bailly instead of Van Dijk?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
