Will Virgil van Dijk prove a worthwhile addition at Liverpool?

So Liverpool have finally got their man. Another Southampton star has opted to swap the South Coast for Merseyside, for a reported £75 million in cold hard transfer funds. Will Virgil van Dijk prove a success at Liverpool? You be the judge…

Many Reds fans are overwhelmed with van Dijk’s arrival…

 

Forget New Years Day, January the 1st is Virgil van Dijk Day.

— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) December 30, 2017

…even if his first taste of life at Liverpool wasn’t exactly a sweet one…

Van Dijk reaction to the goal says it all. pic.twitter.com/lQ1IyWrHf2

— The Redmen TV (@TheRedmenTV) December 30, 2017

Although the Reds could end up splashing out more than just the proposed transfer fee…

The Virgil van Dijk fee is £75M plus £15M in add-ons if he wins the league with Liverpool…

…So just the £75M then. ?? pic.twitter.com/BioehFDLep

— Football Tweets (@FutballTweets) December 29, 2017

 

…and many have seen fit to criticise the recent £75 million acquisition…

Eddie Howe reckons Liverpool have paid too much for Van Dijk

You paid over £20m for Jordon Ibe and Brad Smith m8 ?‍♂️

— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) December 29, 2017

…surely the Dutchman’s arrival with prove worthwhile in the end…

Vardy's opener is exactly why Liverpool have splashed the cash to sign Virgil van Dijk. Very poor.

— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) December 30, 2017

Liverpool need all the help they can get at the back…

Klopp has just ordered Van Dijk to change out of that turtle neck and put Klavan's kit on.

— Paddy Power (@paddypower) December 30, 2017

His job will prove far from easy at Anfield…

Virgil van Dijk looks on at that Liverpool defense Imploding with a face of dread like a man who, too late, realizes he has built his Dream House on Quick Sand

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 30, 2017

…but many envisage the Dutch centre-back performing well on Merseyside…

Great move from @LFC to buy @VirgilvDijk !!! I know it was bloody expensive but #Virgil van Dijk could be missing link to the puzzle…#YouNeverWalkAlone

— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) December 28, 2017

…even if it cost Liverpool a rather ridiculous sum of cash to get this one over the line…

#LFC have signed Virgil van Dijk for 75 million pounds (85 million euros), making him the most expensive defender in history.

That's almost twice as much as Bayern Munich paid for Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng. Combined.

Worth it? ? pic.twitter.com/Iu1JUtof5a

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) December 27, 2017

In today’s market, the concept of genuine value for money has been lost in its entirety…

The world's most expensive defender timeline;

1998 – Stam to Man Utd (£10.6m)
2001 – Thuram to Juventus (£22m)
2002 – Ferdinand to Man Utd (£30m)
2014 – David Luiz to PSG (£50m)
2017 – Walker to Man City (£53m)
2017 – Van Dijk to Liverpool (£75m)

Quality gradually decreasing.

— The Football Writer (@ZeFutbolWriter) December 27, 2017

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