Premier League defender hailed as ‘one of the best in the history of football’

A existent Premier League defender has been hailed arsenic ‘one of the champion successful the past of football’ by erstwhile prima Jose Fonte.

Ex-Portugal centre-back Fonte spent 7 years astatine Southampton, helping the Saints unafraid promotion from League One to the Premier League successful the abstraction of 3 seasons earlier the southbound seashore broadside established themselves arsenic a mainstay successful the English top-flight.

Fonte, present 41, besides had spells astatine English clubs West Ham and Crystal Palace arsenic good arsenic European teams Benfica and Lille.

It was during his stint astatine Southampton that Fonte believes helium played with ‘one of the champion defender successful the past of football’ successful Virgil van Dijk.

Two-and-a-half awesome seasons astatine St Mary’s led then-Southampton skipper Van Dijk to beryllium signed by Liverpool successful January 2018 for £75m.

That made Van Dijk 1 of the astir costly signings successful past but the Netherlands planetary has much than justified the immense outlay, helping bring Premier League and Champions League trophies to Anfield.

Now successful his eighth play astatine Liverpool, Van Dijk looks arsenic bully arsenic ever successful an Arne Slot squad that has conceded conscionable 21 goals this play – the slightest successful the Premier League – and opened up a six-point spread astatine the apical of the table.

Fonte is adamant his erstwhile Saints teammate indispensable present beryllium viewed arsenic an all-time large and says helium ‘wouldn’t beryllium shocked’ if Van Dijk joined European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona oregon Bayern Munich this summer.

Van Dijk, 33, has entered the last six months of his declaration astatine Anfield on with chap superstars Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold and is yet to motion a caller woody to enactment astatine Liverpool.

‘Virgil van Dijk would thrive astatine Real Madrid, Barcelona oregon Bayern Munich and I wouldn’t beryllium shocked to spot him astatine 1 of those clubs adjacent season,’ Fonte told BoyleSports.

‘Those clubs volition beryllium looking for defenders that are arsenic reliable arsenic Van Dijk and they volition each beryllium looking if helium gets to the extremity of the play without signing a contract.

‘He tin inactive execute astatine the highest level and helium has shown helium tin instrumentality attraction of himself. He volition person nary occupation continuing astatine the highest level for different 3 oregon 4 years.

‘Even if Van Dijk loses a spot of pace, helium won’t beryllium slow. He volition get adjacent amended successful his positioning and his anticipation. He is undoubtedly 1 of the champion defenders successful the past of football.’

In a worrying update for Liverpool fans, Van Dijk precocious admitted helium had ‘no idea’ however agelong helium has near astatine Anfield.

Asked however galore much Liverpool games helium has up of him, the Dutchman said: ‘I person nary idea. How galore near this season?

‘Hopefully those are guaranteed and past I don’t cognize what the aboriginal volition bring.’

Van Dijk helped Liverpool support a cleanable expanse past play arsenic Slot’s broadside beat high-flying Bournemouth 2-0 to proceed their seemingly seamless march to the Premier League trophy.

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