Italian journalist Gabrielle Marcotti claims that Virgil Van Dijk agreed deals with two of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
The respected paparazzo has given his insight into the summer-long transfer saga involving Southampton’s key defender, claiming that deals were in place for him to move, but clubs were unable to manufacture a move.
Liverpool were believed to have been closing on a deal for the Dutch defender, before the Saints turned on them and forced the club to apologise for supposed tapping up, and the other clubs are also claimed to have gone to the agent before talking to the club.
This is against the rules, as talking to players about moves has to be permitted by his club, and the story insists that no formal offers were made due to the way the pursuits were made.
He had a deal in place with two of those clubs…. but sometimes stuff happens, as you saw…
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) September 4, 2017
Sure. Doesn't change the fact that VVD reached deals with other clubs. And when that happens, players tend to move, no?
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) September 4, 2017
Again, with this? Clubs go to agents direct all the time. And, in this specific case, as u know from LFC's statement, that's what happened.
— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) September 4, 2017
As much as I like to believe that our club had made a serious attempt to land Van Dijk this summer, especially when Shkodran Mustafi was supposedly to be leaving the club, as he would have been a big upgrade on our current options.
Unfortunately however, I believe the two clubs to be Liverpool and Chelsea who agreed terms with the player, which follows the majority of the speculation which I followed closely.
That doesn’t mean we won’t be be a possible destination for the defender in the future, as I’m sure our club is aware of how much he could improve our faltering defence.
Our club needs to stop pretending to be a poor club in the transfer window, and only trying to seek out bargains, as our rivals will splash out on players like VVD, while we take risks on other players who are deemed better value.
Do you think Arsenal had a deal in place with the player and his representatives? Will VVD move clubs in January?
Pat J
He will definitely move to liverpool.LFC’s project is very exciting.Afterall no good player will want to come to Arsenal rightnow as we are in shambles.
Indecision permeates through the club. There wouldn’t have been a bid for VVD in the first place if it wasn’t for Liverpool/Chelski’s interest. The manager is clueless about what the team needs and acts like one of those people who goes for easter sales in hope of picking up a bargain or two, and promptly stashes them away in the closet, and then puts them up for garage sale.
Shoulda just kept Hayden
Marcotti has an I at the end of his name but he’s just an American journalist born in Italy that guesses a lot like most of us. Notice he hedges. You know as much as him.
If it’s true well then Id say the other two clubs had a deal lined up, well we know Liv are one, so between ourselves and Chelsea they seem more likely to have a deal lined up without the selling clubs permission.
Looking to upgrade on Mustafi seemed very positive to me except for the timing.
He should of been bought not but not to replace Mustafi, I think Mustafi was doing good up until his injury, when he returned the whole team was playing bad and with all the uncertainties around the club it’s going to affect your performance, also Per is retiring, Kos is getting old and injury prone and Chambers and Holding are young still learning there trade.
I don’t care if we had ‘ a deal in place’ for VVD, we probably have ‘ a deal in place’ for loads of players. Am getting fed up with hearing about all these players we nearly signed. How do we know any of it’s true anyway.