John Terry says Virgil van Dijk could walk into any team – Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool – but not Chelsea

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free

Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

John Terry believes Virgil Van Dijk could walk into any team in the Premier League – except his beloved Chelsea.

Van Dijk has been the subject of much speculation and with the January transfer window approaching, talk of a move away from Southampton was fuelled this weekend when Mauricio Pellegrino left the Dutch defender out his starting line-up.

“If you look at Liverpool, he certainly gets into the starting line-up,” Terry said, speaking on Sky Sports. “Arsenal the same. Chelsea – he makes their squad better. Man City he goes into that starting XI, and the same at Manchester United. I think he goes into all those squads and makes them better.”

Soouthampton are thought to be holding out for at least £60m for the 26-year-old, and Terry believes it might be a price worth paying.

“He is a victim of Southampton’s trouble at the minute. I think it was a big statement to put him on the bench for the game with Chelsea. If they are demanding £60m, if I were Chelsea I would be saying more like £55m if he’s not getting in their starting XI.”

Terry also revealed that should his current club, Aston Villa, be promoted from the Championship this season he would need to make a decision about whether to stay, such is his reluctance to play against Chelsea, for whom he made 691 appearances.

The club are currently fifth in the second tier. Asked if he would have to depart Villa Park, Terry replied: “Maybe, we’ll see. I think first thing’s first I want to get us up, that is my big thing. We’re going OK at the moment.”