Arsenal given major transfer boost in chase for Liverpool defensive target

Arsenal have been given a huge boost in their chase to sign Liverpool target Virgil van Dijk after he revealed that being linked with the Gunners is a great feeling, Metro reports.

The 23-year-old defender is also being tracked by Everton and Sunderland is currently rated at about £10million by his club Celtic with the player said to be keen on a switch to the Premier League.

WANT MORE? >> Arsenal Transfer News | Liverpool Transfer News

“I have recently been thinking a bit about it [his career]. I am now 23 and have played at Willem II, FC Groningen and Celtic and am now linked to clubs like Arsenal. Isn’t that great?

“There are a lot of clubs interested, but Celtic is holding onto a big transfer fee. The club is clear: they don’t want to let me go in the winter, because we’re playing for four trophies.

“I understand the point of view from the club and I see it as a compliment that they don’t want to let me go.

“But we have to be realistic. If there’s a nice club from England, we have to talk. I want to develop myself as a player, that’s for sure.”

Arsene Wenger’s side have been rattled by a number of defensive injuries with Mathieu Debuchy being the latest victim to join the list as he is now deemed out for three months due to a shoulder injury.

The addition of another centre-back will be a lift for the Gunners as they currently only have two experienced centre-backs, Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny.

Earlier in the season, Wenger was forced to use a number of his wingers in the middle of his defence when Koscielny was unavailable, prompting his search for a key defender to be a top priority this month.

[ad_pod id=’ricco’ align=’center’]