Newcastle United might’ve just signed their very own Virgil van Dijk.
That’s the view of Sky Sports reporter Pete Graves, who revealed that he’s been told by a Dutch journalist just how on-point the comparisons are.
Earlier this week, Newcastle finally announced the signing of Botman, someone who Eddie Howe and Saudi Public Investment Fund had been chasing since January.
The former Lille powerhouse has joined the Magpies in what’ll prove to be close to a £50 million investment.
And Graves, speaking to the Loaded Mag YouTube channel, said: “It’s another hugely talented footballer whose got an incredible career ahead of him, I was speaking to a Dutch football journalist the other day… he said this guy is built just like Virgil Van Dijk.
“He’s exactly the same height as him, he plays with the same velocity, and he flies into tackles and he’s tailor-made for the Premier League. I think he gives Eddie Howe a brilliant option at centre-back.”
Newcastle supporters should be wary.
That’s because everytime a player becomes the best in the world in his position, every promising up-and-coming player is automatically compared to him no matter how premature.
However, in Botman’s case, there’s genuine cause for excitement.
That’s because the big man is 22 and already proven. He isn’t some teenager coming to the Premier League who might be one day as solid and reliable as the Liverpool stalwart.
At his age, the comparisons are a lot more credible and although it’s improbable that he’ll be as good as Van Dijk one day, simply because of how good and generational the Reds defender is, he could still be an absolutely cracking addition by Newcastle and it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares in the Premier League.
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