THE PREM ERA 75Bought from Eredivisie side Groningen
for £2.6m in 2013, Celtic’s Dutch defender
Virgil van Dijk may not be operating in one
of Europe’s big leagues, but he is an
Virgil van Dijk
Talent Scout,January 2015PLAYERS: HEARD HERE FIRST
outstandingprospectnonetheless,
displaying a wonderful mix of physical
and aerial power, sound anticipation
andtwo-footedproficiency.
Tall, strong, quick and athletic, he has all
the requisite attributes, but what really sets
him apart is the grace and style with which
he brings the ball out from the back. His
ball control and passing are of the highest
order,andhehitsagreatfree-kickfrom
distance. Last season against St.Johnstone,
he waltzed through from the halfway line
to score a breathtaking solo goal.
That goalscoring ability has been
on show ever since his first start for
Groningen: a Europa League play-off
against Den Haag in 2011, in which he was
moved up front at half-time and found the
net twice as his side fought back to level
the aggregate score.
Despite Van Dijk’s excellent form
last term, Louis van Gaal could not find
a place for the Breda-born defender in
the Netherlands’ World Cup squad. His
successor, Guus Hiddink, has called him
up this season, but has kept him on the
bench up until now.
Nick Bidwell