The Dutch defender spent two years at Celtic under Neil Lennon.
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon has told Sky Sports that he is surprised it has taken so long for Virgil van Dijk to win the recognition he deserves.
The Southampton centre-back has been linked with a big-money switch to Liverpool after impressing in the Premier League over the past couple of years.
The Mirror reported this week that the Saints are looking for a whopping £70 million.
It comes as no surprise to Lennon, who brought the Dutchman to Celtic from Groningen for a modest £2 million back in 2013.
But the ex-Hoops boss claims that he told Van Dijk not to get too comfortable in Glasgow, suggesting that he knew he was destined for bigger and better things.
“The first day he came into Celtic I pulled him to one side after training and said ‘you enjoy yourself here because you’re not going to be here long’,” he told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t believe we got him for €2.2million. He was outstanding. I couldn’t believe that none of the big clubs took a bite at him before Southampton.
“I believe he could play at any club side in Europe now – he’s that good. He’s only 24, he’s got 10 years in him. He has got everything you want from a modern-day centre-half: he’s powerful, he’s quick, technically brilliant, he reads the game well, superb in the air.
“So it doesn’t surprise me that the big clubs are coming in now – it’s just surprising that they have waited so long.”
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