OPINION
When Virgil Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 for £75million, he became the world’s most expensive defender in football history.
Fast forward to the modern day and the Dutch colossus has quickly repaid the Reds by living up those standards in becoming the most desirable defensive player to match his price tag.
It was revealed on Saturday that after signing Van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp made a call in an attempt to sign Mainz midfielder Jean-Phillipe Gbamin – with the plan to transform him into a central defender.
The Ivorian’s agent spoke in an interview, recalling the time that the German was in touch regarding the Bundesliga enforcer.
Bernard Collignon told FussballTransfers: “In January 2018 Klopp called Mainz and wanted to commit him as a center-back, who also helps out in midfield. But Mainz did not want to let him go in the middle of the relegation battle. In the summer, Liverpool signed on to Fabinho.”
Collignon went on to suggest that should anyone want to secure his player’s services it would take up to £54million (60million Euros).
Van Dijk was incredible in Liverpool’s rise to success last season, and along with Alisson, it was hard to tell that the Reds have suffered from defensive fragility in the years previous.
Comparing one of the world’s best defenders in Van Dijk to Gbamin via WhoScored, it would be hard to make a case in favour of Klopp spending the reported £54million for his services.
The most telling stat is Van Dijk’s ability to sniff out danger when it is near, which is highlighted in his average of 5.2 clearances per game, compared to Gbamin who doesn’t even average a single one.
Klopp has not missed out in avoiding this transfer, with Gbamin’s more familiar role being in midfield. Despite that, it is Van Dijk who has better averages when it comes to being in possession of the ball too.
The former Borussia Dortmund manager has instilled a fast high tempo style of football at Anfield, something his marquee defender has become familiar with very quickly. Van Dijk averages almost 40 more passes per game than the Mainz midfielder, and also holds a much better pass success rate with 89.7% compared to his 80.4%.
Gbamin would not slot straight into this Liverpool squad, and it seems that Klopp has managed to dodge a bullet in regards to not signing Mainz man previously, as he would have just ended up in Van Dijk’s shadow.
