Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the Premier League, according to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand.

The Southampton centre-back handed in a transfer request during the summer as he tried to force through a move to Liverpool.

But the Saints resisted the pressure and Ferdinand believes they made the right decision.

"I think Virgil van Dijk – he's a player at the moment that has been courted by a lot of the top teams," said the former England captain.

"Southampton did well to keep hold of him.

"He's got the stature; he's a big guy and great on the floor as well.

The 38-year-old added: "Defending isn't the first thing on defenders lips these days – that's the difference.

"They think about passing the ball. The way the coaching is at the moment it's all about on the ball, receiving the ball and then you think about defending.

"That's the big difference for defenders nowadays.

"Especially things like one v one situations or the basics – defending your back post when the ball is wide or defending the front post when the ball is in wide areas.

"I think the basic elements of defending are probably not as high up the list of working on as what they once were.

"When you find someone like Virgil van Dijk, who is very good on the ball but also very good defensively, you do start jumping around and going crazy."