Arsenal boss Unai Emery has praised Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk and asked the club board to sign an impact player like the Dutchman in the summer to bolster the squad. The Gunners need a strong centre-back as well if they are going to compete for major honors in the near future.
Unai Emery’s arrival at Arsenal following Arsene Wenger’s departure has prompted a massive change in positivity at the club as they are in strong contention to finish inside the top 4 and qualify for the Champions League. The Gunners are also in the quarterfinals of the Europa League and a much anticipated two-legged clash against Napoli awaits in the next few weeks.
Almost every signing that the Spaniard made in the summer of 2018 has gone on to have an influential impact on the team. But one department that Arsenal still has to improve on is their defense and Emery may have hinted at a particular kind on signing that he is looking for in the summer.
While speaking to news outlet Goal, Emery stated that he is happy with his academy players and wants to develop them but also wants the blend of an established new signing like Van Dijk to help the team even further, “I have big respect for our work, for our players in the academy. I want to develop the players here – giving them progress to achieve something at a big club like we are. We can also achieve [buy] some players who are in other teams, who can come here and give us this performance – like Van Dijk with Liverpool.”
Van Dijk arrived at Liverpool from South coast club Southampton in the January transfer window back in 2018 for a club record transfer of £75 million and has gone on to become a colossus at Anfield with his stunning displays. Liverpool currently sits at the top of the Premier League table and are competing with Manchester City for the title and Emery is hopeful that a player with the aura of Van Dijk could arrive at the Emirates this summer transfer window.
