Ian Wright: Liverpool FC wrong to target only Virgil van Dijk
The Arsenal legend questions why Liverpool FC didn't have other centre-halves on their transfer wish list this summer
Ian Wright believes Liverpool should have lined up one or two alternatives to Virgil van Dijk after Jurgen Klopp failed to complete the signing of the Southampton captain in the summer.
The Reds pursued the Netherlands international in the summer transfer window but the Saints refused to entertain offers for the 26-year-old defender.
Indeed, Liverpool even had to issue an apology to their Premier League rivals over an alleged tapping up of the Southampton skipper during the transfer window.
Van Dijk handed in a transfer request in an attempt to force the south coast club’s hand but the Saints refused to sell and cited the former Celtic defender’s new long-term deal that he signed earlier in 2017.
Liverpool failed to bring in an alternative centre-half despite their well-documented defensive problems and the Reds have continued to leak goals in the 2017-18 Premier League season so far.
Indeed, Klopp’s men have conceded 12 times in seven Premier League games to raise questions about their ability to contend for silverware this season.
Former Arsenal striker Wright admits he can’t understand why Liverpool didn’t have other centre-halves lined up in the event of missing out on Van Dijk.
“Absolutely, they should have had a couple in mind,” Wright told BBC Radio 5 Live. “You get them in and you’ve still go to work with them.”
Liverpool are in seventh place in the Premier League table.
