Internet rumours suggest Southampton will do swap deal with Chelsea
By Chris Hughes
It seems like the Virgil van Dijk transfer saga has taken an interesting twist, with rumours bouncing around of a cash-plus-player deal from Chelsea.
Southampton fans are starting to adjust to the fact that Virgil van Dijk will not be a Saints player come next season. It’s a hard pill to swallow but with fresh transfer rumours each week surrounding the Dutchman, it’s difficult to imagine him staying come summer.
However despite Arsenal reportedly being willing to offer him a bumper, six-figure salary each week, Chelsea are his preferred destination. And they might just be the Southampton preferred one too.
That’s because the latest rumours suggest that Chelsea could offer a cash-plus-player deal to sway the south coast outfit, in a swap that would see one of the side’s defenders move to Hampshire.
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As with any transfer rumour it varies source to source, but the general consensus is that Southampton would get Andreas Christensen plus at least three-quarters of the Dutch international’s transfer value in cash. That’d equate to between thirty and forty million.
Christensen might not be a household name to English fans, but the Dane has enjoyed a stellar two seasons on-loan at German’s Borussia Monchengladbach. The 21-year-old has been a first-team regular across the two years, making over 75 appearances in all competitions.
He could make a great addition to the Southampton back-line, thanks to a mature head and European experience at a young age.
However reports aren’t as black and white as it may seem, with the Daily Mail instead suggesting that Chelsea are keen on keeping hold of the Danish international. The Blues’ policy when it comes to loanees has been met with scrutiny in recent years, so another departure for the youngster isn’t off the cards.
However Christensen isn’t the only young, experienced European centre-back who could play a part in the move of Virgil van Dijk. A host of media outlets have suggested that Kurt Zouma will be available on a loan next season, with the Frenchman having fallen down the pecking order in London.
The 22-year-old returned to the first team two months into the season after a long-term absence, but has gone on to make just seven league appearances since. Antonio Conte’s preference for a back three of Cesar Azpilicueta, Gary Cahill and David Luiz has left Zouma out in the cold, and the arrival of van Dijk would only limit his involvement more.
Zouma’s lack of game-time is no indication of his ability nor potential, with the 22-year-old having already made over 130 appearances professionally. What’s more, he’s a whole nine months younger than Jack Stephens, who himself is regarded as a young talent.
In any situation Southampton fans are bound to prefer a scenario where they can keep hold of Virgil van Dijk, but in terms of the strength of offer from an incoming buyer, there seems little better than Chelsea’s.