Pundit: van Dijk move to Liverpool still likely in January
That is the view of pundit and former England and Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand.
Liverpool were interested in Southampton star Van Dijk throughout the summer but the south coast club refused to sell.
The Dutchman handed in a transfer request but Saints would still not budge and Liverpool missed out on the 26-year-old.
Ferdinand was speaking ahead of Liverpool’s 2-2 Champions League draw against Sevilla last night.
BT SPORT
Liverpool transfer news: Virgil van Dijk would be a leader in the Reds defence, says Ferdinand
There needs to be a leader in there. I mean that’s probably why he went so hard for Van Dijk
Rio Ferdinand on Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk
He was analysing the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday and he says they cannot afford to defend like that if they have aspirations of winning silverware.
“The word balance is key to this Liverpool team,” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
“They’re fantastic going forward as it well documented, great players, they can attack at great pace.
“But defensively they’ve got to sharpen up.
BT SPORT
Liverpool transfer news: Virgil van Dijk was on the Reds' radar throughout the summer
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“You can’t expect to big win games, big cups or league titles when you defend like that.
“There needs to be a leader in there. I mean that’s probably why he went so hard for Van Dijk.
“There is not a leader in that back four at all.”
Van Dijk has not played for Southampton since January due to an ankle injury.
He was also training away from the first-team up until the end of the transfer window.
