Pundit has his say on Liverpool’s move for Virgil van Dijk, and calls on Reds to sign Brighton defender.
Pundit Garth Crooks has had his say on Liverpool signing Virgil van Dijk for £75 million from Southampton.
Crooks has been an outspoken critic of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, particularly after their failure to address their defensive woes in the summer.
Now he admits the manager deserves belated credit for signing a centre-back, but says Van Dijk will not be enough.
Crooks told BBC Sport: “Finally Klopp has bought a defender who can actually defend.
“Virgil van Dijk alone cannot stem the flow of traffic heading for Liverpool’s goalmouth and will need someone of note beside him to make them a credible defensive unit. But Klopp seems to be finally on the right track. And about time.”
Crooks had a suggestion over who the second defender should be too, urging the Reds to pay big for Brighton and Hove Albion defender Lewis Dunk.
He said: “It struck me that Liverpool could do themselves a great service by making an audacious move for Dunk. What would he cost – £35m in today’s grossly over-inflated market? Offer £45m and I’ve no doubt Brighton boss Chris Hughton would drive him to Anfield himself.”
That certainly would be an offer too good for Brighton to refuse, although there may not be much appetite among Liverpool fans to carry on spending at such an astronomic rate – on a defender who was playing Championship football last season.
How much Liverpool do have to spend will depend whether they decide they can hang onto Philippe Coutinho or not, in the face of fierce interest from Barcelona.
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