According to reports from The Daily Star, Liverpool are targeting Southampton defensive duo Virgil van Dijk and Sam McQueen, whilst Manchester United are still interested in signing Jose Fonte.
What’s the word?
Although they’ve struggled for proficiency at the more glamorous end of the pitch this season, Southampton remain one of the best defensive outfits in the Premier League. They’ve conceded just twelve goals in twelve games this term – the best record in the bottom half and the joint-fourth best throughout the division.
Saints’ defensive qualities were particularly evident on Saturday as they held Liverpool, the league’s top scorers, to a goalless draw at St. Mary’s and perhaps as a consequence, The Daily Star claim the Premier League’s biggest clubs are eyeing Claude Puel’s leading defenders.
Liverpool are reportedly preparing a £40million double-raid for star centre-back Virgil van Dijk and prodigious No.3 Sam McQueen, whilst Southampton ‘also fear’ losing captain Jose Fonte – who is still attracting interest from Manchester United.
Fonte to Old Trafford?
The Red Devils were continuously linked with Fonte during the latter stages of the summer transfer window after he’d helped Portugal claim an unlikely European Championship in France, with United reportedly holding ‘informal talks’ over a potential deal in August – according to ESPN.
Fonte has been his usually consistent self this season, missing just one of Southampton’s Premier League fixtures thus far, whilst Manchester United face a host of problems at the back.
A raft of injuries saw Jose Mourinho field Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Mateo Darmian during a 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Saturday – three defenders who appeared destined to leave Old Trafford at the start of the season – and United’s overall defensive record is notably underwhelming compared to Mourinho’s usual standards.
They’ve conceded 14 times already, two more goals than the Saints, kept just four clean sheets and suffered heavy losses at the hands of Watford and Chelsea. Although by no means a world-beater, the stability Fonte offers would be a welcome change from the current situation in the Red Devils back line. Furthermore, with his contract due to expire at the end of next season, Southampton could be pressured into selling when the transfer window opens in January.
Here’s a look at how Fonte’s form has compared to United’s current centre-back options this season based on per-game metrics, courtesy of Squawka.
Another Liverpool-Southampton deal?
Seemingly the Reds’ go-to recruitment pool, Liverpool have spent nearly £100million on Southampton players over the past few summers, not least including a £36million deal for winger-forward Sadio Mane during the last transfer window. There appears to be a largely positive relationship between both boardrooms in the transfer market, so Football FanCast wouldn’t be surprised to see them reach another agreement in the new year.
However, one target certainly makes more sense than the other. Whilst Sam McQueen is a talented prospect coming near the end of his Saints contract, the left-back is just 21 years of age and has only three Premier League appearances under his belt thus far. He’s surely not an immediate answer to Liverpool’s well-documented issues at No.3, with midfielder James Milner filling the void this season, which casts inevitable doubts over The Daily Star’s claims.
On the other hand, Liverpool’s reported interest in Virgil van Dijk is much less surprising. The Netherlands international has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League since arriving from Celtic two summers ago and was the subject of discussion on Match of the Day after a heroic performance against the Reds. Aerially dominant yet quick and talented with the ball at his feet, VvD seems destined for greater things.
According to Whoscored, only three defenders to have made five appearances or more have performed better than him in the Premier League this season.
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