Arsenal were given the opportunity to sign Virgil van Dijk for just £12million but turned him down over fears he was too nonchalant for the Premier League.
The Liverpool defender has now established himself as arguably the best centre-back in the division following his record £75m move to Anfield last January.
But plenty of clubs passed up the chance to sign him when he was at Celtic before Southampton finally took the plunge, and the Scottish champions former assistant manager says Arsenal were chief among them.
Arsenals chief scout [Steve Rowley] thought he was too nonchalant, John Collins told beIN Sport.
Maybe that was part of his game but he ticks so many of the other boxes.
More: Football
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Hes got pace, power, balance, distribution and hes good in the air.
He can be a bit nonchalant but he is a quality player.
Gary McAllister was the assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool and I told him I hope youre going to come and take Virgil but Brendan didnt fancy him and didnt think he was better than what he already had.
He wouldve cost around £12m – every team watched him regularly but the worry was he was showing it against Scottish players but you could tell he was strong, powerful and a well balanced player.
More: Arsenal FC
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Arsenal were given the opportunity to sign Virgil van Dijk for just £12million but turned him down over fears he was too nonchalant for the Premier League.
The Liverpool defender has now established himself as arguably the best centre-back in the division following his record £75m move to Anfield last January.
But plenty of clubs passed up the chance to sign him when he was at Celtic before Southampton finally took the plunge, and the Scottish champions former assistant manager says Arsenal were chief among them.
Arsenals chief scout [Steve Rowley] thought he was too nonchalant, John Collins told beIN Sport.
Maybe that was part of his game but he ticks so many of the other boxes.
More: Football
Advertisement Advertisement
Hes got pace, power, balance, distribution and hes good in the air.
He can be a bit nonchalant but he is a quality player.
Gary McAllister was the assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool and I told him I hope youre going to come and take Virgil but Brendan didnt fancy him and didnt think he was better than what he already had.
He wouldve cost around £12m – every team watched him regularly but the worry was he was showing it against Scottish players but you could tell he was strong, powerful and a well balanced player.
More: Arsenal FC
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