Ajax legend Ronald De Boer has hailed Southampton star Virgil van Dijk as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.
Van Dijk arrived at Southampton from Celtic in the summer of 2015 and the Dutchman has impressed many with his strong performances at the back for the Saints over the past 18 months or so.
Unsurprisingly, a number of top clubs have expressed their interest in signing van Dijk recently and now Ajax icon De Boer has taken the time out to praise the 25-year-old by hailing him as 'one of the best defenders' in the Premier League, following a so-so beginning to his career with FC Groningen.
De Boer told talkSPORT: "He has made a transition in a positive way.
"Under Ronald Koeman at Southampton he made unbelievable progress and now this year he is one of the top defenders in the Premier League.
"When he was at Groningen he did OK, he was physical, but we Dutch men always want defenders to play the ball to the same colour and that is something we thought was not his best thing. But now he does that.
"His passing is excellent but, most importantly, his defending is outstanding. He is showing it week in, week out in one of the toughest leagues in the world."
