Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Liverpool news: Roy Keane explains why £75m was CHEAP for Virgil van Dijk
LIVERPOOL got Virgil van Dijk on the cheap when they signed him from Southampton in January.
That is the opinion of former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane.
Van Dijk joined Liverpool midway through last season for a fee of £75million.
The deal to take the Dutchman to Anfield still remains the most ever paid for a defender.
Van Dijk has made a huge impact on the Liverpool side and helped them reach the Champions League final last season.
That’s what great players do. He’s made the other players around him better
The Reds are unbeaten in the Premier League this term heading into Sunday’s clash at home to rivals Manchester United.
Keane was working as a pundit for Sky Sports for the match.
And ahead of kick off he paid tribute to the impact Van Dijk has had on his team-mates.
“Outstanding,” Keane said of Van Dijk.
“When they bought him you thought ‘that’s a lot of money’. Now it looks really cheap.
“The key to him, whatever he has done, he has made the players around him better.
“That’s what great players do. He’s made the other players around him better.
“We saw some clips there, he obviously looks comfortable on the ball but he also looks like he wants to defend, he likes defending, he’s got that bit of pride.
“A lot of the modern defenders now or centre-halves seem to be neat and tidy on the ball.
“But the priority is when you get your head on it, and he looks like he’s got the full package.
“A big, big player for Liverpool.”