Dutch great Marco van Basten says Ajax defender Jurrien Timber is a better on-field leader than Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk.

Van Basten has explained what Van Dijk does is “weird" - and goes on to make further claims about the current state of the centre-back options for his country.

“Jurrien Timber is our biggest strength in defence," Van Basten said. “He always takes the initiative just like Nathan Ake while actually the best defender (Van Dijk) takes the least initiative of the three which is weird, that such a great centre back does so little in the build-up.

“Ajax is playing great football thanks to Jurrien Timber and the national team is playing great football thanks to him too.

“It's thanks to him that we are able to play so easy out from the back."