Arsenal Eyeing Van Dijk After Centre-Back Hands In Transfer Request

Arsenal are looking at Virgil Van Dijk after the centre-back handed in a transfer request at Premier League rivals Southampton (via The Mirror).

After reports linking Gabriel Paulista with a move away from the club and Per Mertesacker retiring at the end of the season, Arsenal are going to have to bring in another centre-back pretty soon.

The dream signing, for many fans, would be Virgil Van Dijk who has impressed so much for Southampton in the past couple of seasons.

The 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from Liverpool all season long with the Saints valuing the defender at anywhere between £50 and £75 million.

The Dutch international handed in a transfer request at the club this week and it seems that the Gunners are ready to pounce and make a move for the defender.

The Gunners were previously linked with a move for the defender when he was still at Celtic and the player was asked about Arsenal at the time.

Don't Miss:

“Arsenal are an amazing club,” Van Dijk said. “It’s a big club with a great history but so are Celtic and I’m very happy here just now. I just want to play well and we will see what happens in the future. There are stories but until there are bids I can’t say anything.

“I have ambitions but Celtic is an amazing club with a lot of history. There is no rush to leave but you never know in the future.”

Virgil Van Dijk would be an excellent signing for Arsenal. With a couple of players set to leave, recruitment is needed and the Dutch defender fits the bill perfectly. He’s been one of the standout defenders in the Premier League in the last couple of years and would suit the Arsenal system incredibly well. He’d be expensive but it’s just the sort of signing Arsenal need to make.