With Virgil van Dijk’s move to Merseyside being touted as an almost-done deal (Champions League willing) by a few media outlets, pundits are starting to turn towards other potential summer targets as the end of the season nears. Former Red defender, Phil Thompson, believes Liverpool will go all out this summer and make a bid for van Dijk’s partner, Ryan Bertrand, as well as Saints’ midfielder, Oriol Romeu.
Bertrand’s name has already been flung around by the rumour mongers, and Thompson believes he’d be a natural fit.
“Bertrand is one who would improve us,” Thompson told Sky Sports. “James Milner has been nothing short of fantastic but he’s not a natural left-back and it’s hard to see any sort of future for Alberto Moreno at the club. Bertrand is a good defender and he times his movement going forward particularly well.”
As for Romeu, Thompson is one of many pundits singing his praises after the season he’s had. The 25-year-old midfielder has been a vision at Southampton, turning out consistently excellent performances and recently being named Saints’ Players’ Player and the Fans’ Player of the Season. Thompson believes this may make a difference when transfer season begins.
“There might be a bit of interest as well in Romeu,” he said. “[He] has had an excellent season and does exactly what it says on the tin. He’s a destroyer, he’s got a great attitude and passes the ball very well.”
While this is all wild speculation at this point, it sounds like a step in the right direction to avoid another game like Sunday’s.