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Chelsea and Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk ‘ready for move to top club’, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers tells talkSPORT

Chelsea and Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk ‘ready for move to top club’, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers tells talkSPORT

Chelsea and Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk is ready to take the next step in his career and join one of the Premier League’s top clubs, according to Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers.

Van Dijk joined current club Southampton after an impressive spell for the Scottish champions, and is now being chased by some of England’s biggest teams.

The majority of the Premier League’s big guns will be looking to strengthen their defences this season, with Manchester City and Manchester United also linked with the 25-year-old Dutchman, while Inter Milan are also said to be interested.

Southampton have reportedly already begun a search for his replacement, meaning it is almost certain the in-demand star will leave St Mary’s in the upcoming transfer window.

And Rodgers insists the former Celtic man - who has missed half the season and is still sidelined with a foot injury he suffered in January - is more than ready.

Asked if Van Dijk is good enough for one of the Premier League’s top clubs, Rodgers told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast: “Well he certainly looks it.

“The problem sometimes for some of the guys playing up here for Celtic is that people were thinking that they were only playing in Scottish football, which is of course a less competitive league than the Premier League.

“But if you’re doing it at a European level for Celtic and you’re playing under the pressure for Celtic, then you have to have something about you.

“I speak to the guys at the club who have worked with Virgil van Dijk, and he’s always had those qualities. It’s just up to someone to take that punt on him.

“He’s 6ft 4in, he’s fast, he can play, he’s an international footballer, he’s good in the air - he’s got everything. You saw that in a player like Wanyama when he was up here as well, you know they’re a top player.

“Virgil is at a great club, let’s not forget, Southampton is a fantastic club, and if he left there then of course it would have to be what you would consider to be one of the top four or top six clubs.”

Listen back to talkSPORT’s interview with Brendan Rodgers - as he reflects on Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final win and Christian Benteke’s match-winning brace against Liverpool - IN FULL above

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