Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, one of those who would have entered into any conversation about the best top-flight talent in England, said he considered the Dutch center-half to be the best.
Van Dijk is the most talented defender in the world today
Virgil van Dijk has been hailed with praise after making a record move to Liverpool for £75 million ($92 million). But Steve Nicol said it was too early to bill him as the best Premier League defender he has ever seen. Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany, one of those who would have entered into any conversation about the best top-flight talent in England, said he considered the Dutch center-half to be the best. Many share that point of view, with Van Dijk. Regularly speaks as the most talented defender in the world today. Liverpool has greatly benefited from this talent. While the Netherlands International helped them enter the Champions League and Club World Cup with crowns with several teams and consecutive performances.
They were lost goals
Nicol admits that the 28-year-old striker was an excellent addition for Jürgen Klopp, but the former Reds back is reluctant to buy into the belief that Van Dijk is the best English football he has seen since opening a new era in 1992. “I think it’s tough to turn around and say that he is the best center-back in the history of the Premier League because the problem now is that it is relevant, and it is precisely what Kompany’s is focusing on,” said Nicol. “I think the other thing to remember was Liverpool’s obvious problem, it was such a gaping hole in the back, the reason they couldn’t get through the line is that they were lost goals.
The main center-back in world football
“The best guy in the Premier League at Southampton was Van Dijk, and he’s come in, and he has been great. He right now, without a doubt, the main center-back in world football. Never mind just in the Premier League”. It is a short space at the very top with Liverpool, two seasons. So I’m not quite ready to say that he is the best. Of course, he is in dispute there, but just a little early for me to throw such accolades around”. Any controversy regarding the best Premier League defenders of all time would expect several other legendary names to be thrown into the pot.
Chelsea icons John Terry would likely be in dispute, along with Manchester United greats Rio Ferdinand and Jaap Stam. At the same time, Tony Adams and Saul Campbell had previously starred for Arsenal. Kompany would also be the choice of many, with the Belgian enjoying 11 great years at City before heading home to Anderlecht in 2019.