Chelsea are looking to unearth a new Virgil Van Dijk-Esque defender
It was 2017 and Liverpool, Premier League rivals of Chelsea, announced that they would be signing a Dutch defender by the name of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for £75m – a world record fee for a defender then. This move was criticised by many like the English legend Alan Shearer who felt the Dutchman was not worth being treated as the most priced defender in the world.
Cut to six years later, Virgil Van Dijk is regarded as one of the best defenders in the world as well as of his generation. He has become a legend at Anfield and has won numerous personal and team awards in the red jersey. Regarded as a superstar in the Premier League, he is the current skipper of the Reds.
According to journalist Simon Phillips on his substack and as reported by Liverpool.com, Chelsea have set their sights on unearthing a new centre-back in the mould of Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk from the flourishing Dutch talent pool.
Phillips claims Chelsea are eyeing potential Van Dijk-esque defenders from the Netherlands as they aim to replace veteran Thiago Silva eventually. But replicating the transcendent impact of Van Dijk could prove far easier said than done.
There’s no doubt about the appeal of trying to discover the next Van Dijk, who has proven a transformative signing for Liverpool. But, they don’t make players like Van Dijk often and this could be a long search.
The 32-year-old possesses an exquisite blend of size, strength, speed, technique, and intelligence. He excels in every aspect of defending while also offering skill and composure on the ball.
Centre-backs boasting such a complete package are once-in-a-generation talents. As good as the new crop of Dutch defenders may become, expecting one to reach Van Dijk’s stratospheric levels is frankly unrealistic.
Chelsea recruiting smartly in the Netherlands makes sense strategically. But Van Dijk has set the bar almost impossibly high.
Rather than specifically hunt a facsimile of him, Chelsea should target the best long-term option with the potential to stabilize their backline. A Van Dijk regen may never materialize.
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Thiago Silva has defied age brilliantly. But at age 39 eventually, even he will need replacing. While easier said than done, unearthing a commanding, ball-playing centre-back must be the priority.
If a player emerges boasting even shades of Van Dijk’s excellence, he’ll prove an amazing capture. But that blend of physical prowess and technical quality is once in a lifetime.