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- Chelsea reportedly linked with a move for Southampton’s Virgil Van Dijk.
- Antonio Conte sings Van Dijk’s praises after win over the Saints.
- READ MORE: Chelsea could make another move to sign Juventus star.
Has Antonio Conte just added fuel to the Virgil Van Dijk to Chelsea speculation that’s been going on since the last transfer window?
The Daily Star report that the Dutchman has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, which comes as no surprise to anyone who has watched him in action in recent years.
Van Dijk’s towering, athletic build mean that he has the ideal physique for a player playing in a league as combative and competitive as the Premier League. However, he has plenty more in his locker than just his size.
The Saints centre-half is able to distribute from the back in a classy manner, as well as being a threat going forward both in the area or from free-kicks.
On paper, he’d slot perfectly into Chelsea’s back three, and it looks as though Conte may think the same.
As previously mentioned, the Daily Star’s report links Van Dijk with a move to Chelsea, and Conte may have fuelled the speculation by praising the 26-year-old following our victory over Southampton.
The Daily Star quote Conte, who says:
“He’s a really good player. He had a bad (knee) injury, but I think he recovered very well. I wish him the best.”
Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino was unable to guarantee Van Dijk will stay at the club after dropping him to the substitutes bench as Chelsea beat Southampton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge yesterday.
Pellegrino said,
“Virgil is an important player, i can’t control the market.”
“I’m not the owner of the player. I can have my opinion and this I have give to the technical director, to the chairman, my opinion.”
“After the board can decide altogether which is the best for the team.”
There’s also reports suggesting the out of favor David Luiz is on his way out of Stamford Bridge, so it remains to be seen if Chelsea move for the former Celtic man as the January window approaches.
