Liverpool dressing room reaction to Virgil van Dijk transfer revealed amid contract talks

Virgil Van Dijk

Daniel Sturridge has revealed that the Liverpool players were delighted with the move to bring Virgil van Dijk to the club.

The Dutchman completed his then-world record move to Anfield from Southampton in late 2017

The 33-year-old has been lauded as a key signing during the Jurgen Klopp era as the Reds transformed from a Champions League-chasing side to winning the Premier League

Arne Slot has been able to call upon his fellow Dutch compatriot this season, as the Reds challenge at the top-flight summit

there has been a cloud over Van Dijk's involvement during the campaign amid contract uncertainty.

Van Dijk is out of contract in the summer but remains calm regarding his future on Merseyside.

Former Liverpool teammate, Sturridge, has revealed the dressing room reaction to his big-money move seven years ago.

Sturridge

"Top class guy, when he first joined everyone was buzzing behind the scenes,"

"Going forward we were probably very good but defensively, we wasn't as good.

“He was one of the main reasons, alongside Alisson, for where the team is today.

“He has grown in confidence, he wasn't as much of a leader as he is today.”

"I remember playing for England and Ryan Bertrand saying, 'he's the best defender, top, top class.' When you train against him every day then you see the levels he's at, he's top drawer, he's got everything that you want for a defender.

“You have to give him credit for the consistency, he's been a revelation."

the former Chelsea striker failed to be drawn on the conversation comparing Van Dijk with Londoners' icon John Terry.

Following his displays for the Reds, the Dutchman has been dubbed one of the Premier League's best central defenders alongside Terry and the likes of Rio Ferdinand.

Sturridge added:

"I think JT (John Terry) was very different to Virg, JT was far more vocal in the dressing room, he was the undoubted leader.

"Very different styles, JT played in a deeper defensive line with Virg we play higher up. They'd be an unbelievable partnership, they'd be the perfect pair.

"Virg, it's so effortless but both legends of the game, two of the best we've ever seen."