The Southampton star replaced Alderweireld after the Belgian moved to Tottenham Hotspur.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp reckons Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk is the Premier League’s best defender… bar one.
Redknapp – the son of former Saints and Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry – says Van Dijk has made England’s top flight look easy since arriving at St. Mary’s from Celtic in 2015 and could one day play for European giants Barcelona or Real Madrid.
That said, there is one player who just edges the Dutchman as the league’s best position-wise, in Redknapp’s opinion, and that is Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld – ironically, the man Van Dijk replaced at Southampton.
“I’ve liked him since his Celtic days,” the former Southampton and Tottenham midfielder told Sky Sports. “He’s come to the Premier League and is making it look easy. I think Toby Alderweireld might just edge him as the best but he’s certainly not far behind.
“He’s got it all. He’s obviously very big, he’s good on the ball and he’s got pace. He’s the modern-day centre-back who can come forward with the ball. He could play for any team in the future – Barcelona, Real Madrid – he’s that good.”
It will perhaps come as little surprise that Tottenham, who boasted the Premier League’s best defence last season, and Southampton are among the sides to have conceded the fewest goals so far this term.
No team has shipped fewer than Tottenham (four), while Everton (six) are the only other team that can better Southampton’s tally.
Incidentally, Van Dijk was linked with a move to Everton during the summer transfer window, but signed a new six-year deal at St. Mary’s earlier this year.
Everton boss Koeman signed Van Dijk for Saints
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