Great Expectations – Virgil van Dijk

Having arrived at Southampton last summer with a reputation as a goal scoring defender, after netting nine times in two seasons at Celtic, Virgil van Dijk managed a respectable three strikes in 34 Premier League appearances as Saints secured a sixth place finish.

The Dutch international, who cost Southampton £13 million, impressed in his first season in England, forming a strong centre-back partnership with Jose Fonte, and, having settled at St. Mary’s, could be set for an even more productive campaign this time around.

The 25-year-old is an imposing figure, standing at six foot four inches tall, and, as is the case with the majority of Dutch footballers, is very strong technically, with the central defender confident when dribbling the ball, and also able to initiate attacks through his wide range of passing.

The fact that Van Dijk was handed a new six-year contract in May certainly illustrates the club’s faith in the former Groningen defender, so he’ll be expected to continue his development as a player over the coming years.

Key Factors

• Van Dijk’s attacking statistics last season were pretty impressive across the board, finishing fifth among defenders for both penalty box touches (71), and shots on target (nine). He ended the campaign joint-eighth among defenders for total goal attempts, with 29, the same number as Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann, who netted five times in 2015/16. The Dutchman is particularly dominant in the air, having won 158 headers last term, 36 more than any other defender. His aerial presence should continue to be crucial at both ends of the pitch, then, and with Dusan Tadic looking nailed on under new Saints boss Claude Puel, Van Dijk should benefit from strong set-piece delivery in the final third. It’s worth noting he’s already found the back of the net during pre-season, scoring in Southampton’s 2-1 win against FC Twente.

• Despite the changes in management, Southampton have registered 15, 15 and 12 clean sheets over the past three seasons, providing Fantasy managers with a reliable source of defensive returns. The early signs under Puel appear positive in that regard, having only conceded one goal in four matches thus far during pre-season, so Van Dijk should continue to offer a dual threat at either end of the pitch.

• After finishing last season with 130 points in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), joint-tenth among defenders, Van Dijk has once again been valued at 5.5. That’s the same price as fellow Saints defenders Fonte and Ryan Bertrand, while Cedric Soares and Cuco Martina, who look set to battle it out for the right-back position once again, are available at 5.0 and 4.5 respectively. The Dutchman’s superior goal threat makes him the standout option, with his ability to shoot from long distance, be it from open play or a free-kick, also an added string to his bow. That’s reflected by the former Celtic man currently having an ownership of 11.2% in FPL, more than both Fonte (9%) and Bertrand (4.4%).

• Southampton face three very appealing home fixtures over the opening five Gameweeks (WAT, SUN, SWA), affording Puel the perfect opportunity to get off to a strong start at St Mary’s. Although that is somewhat offset by the fact they also travel to both Man United and Arsenal, Van Dijk’s goal threat means he’s still more than capable of prevailing across those tricky pair of road trips.

• While Van Dijk offers plenty of appeal due to his attacking threat and potential clean sheet points, the Dutch international also flourishes when it comes to the Bonus Point System (BPS). He gained 16 bonus points last term, fifth among defenders, and finished fourth at the back for Clearances, Blocks and Interceptions (CBI), making him a particularly strong option for those plum home fixtures in which Southampton have historically thrived in.