Ronald de Boer believes that Virgil van Dijk has developed into one of the finest defenders in the Premier League.
The former Ajax and Barcelona striker was discussing the Southampton star on talkSPORT with the interview picked up in his native land by the Football Oranje website.
Praise for van Dijk will be bittersweet for Saints fans who are resigned to losing the Dutchman in the summer with Manchester City and Chelsea expecting to start the bidding at £50m.
Van Dijk’s Southampton appearances will be further limited with an ankle injury ruling him out of action for three months including the EFL Cup Final at Wembley against Manchester United.
Southampton paid Celtic £10m in August 2015 with his value growing on an almost weekly basis after taking to the English game with ease.
With van Dijk injured and Jose Forte sold to West Ham, Southampton will have to face up to the net few months with a new look central defence.