To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders
Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications
Published
| Last updated
Neil Warnock has told how Crystal Palace ignored Virgil van Dijk while he was at Celtic because of Scottish football.
The English manager was in charge of the Selhurst Park club back in 2014 when it emerged that the Dutch centre back could have been on his way out of Glasgow.
According to Warnock, Palace expressed an interest in van Dijk, but refused to follow up on it after a scout wrote him off.
Neil Warnock today: "I think Sol Bamba is slightly better than Van Dijk, defensive wise,"
Neil Warnock 3 years back: "I went after the centre-half at Celtic, Van Dijk, and they wanted £6million. I said 'we have got to buy him, don't we?'
- Colin Cunningham (@CunningColin) December 28, 2017
Instead, Southampton decided to take the plunge on the centre half, buying him for £13million - and now they're set to make a £62m profit after agreeing to sell him to Liverpool in a £75m deal.
When you read Warnock's account of why Palace missed out on him, you can only laugh at the contempt Scottish football is held in among some south of the border:
"When I was at Palace, I went after a centre-half at Celtic called Van Dijk and they wanted £6 million." Warnock said.
"So i said 'we've got to buy him, don't we?' But the chief scout went to see him and said "he's not very quick; it's Scottish football. That was before Southampton came in for him."
Now he's worth £75million.. :joy: (via @SportsBreakfast) pic.twitter.com/vDdQtu9pFc
- talkingbaws.com (@talkingbaws) December 28, 2017
So Palace have struggled to stay in the English Premier League over recent seasons and will now miss out on a huge profit due to one scout's lack of respect for Scottish football?
We can't imagine the fans will be happy with that.
Van Dijk will complete his move to Liverpool once the January transfer window opens, bringing an end to a two-and-a-half season spell at Southampton.
Earlier today, Warnock caused further conversation when he claimed Cardiff's Sol Bamba was a better defender than Liverpool's latest signing Van Dijk
Neil Warnock says Cardiff's Sol Bamba is "a better defender" than £75m Virgil van Dijk. Interview on @SkySportsNews
- Graham Thomas (@Graham_Thomas) December 28, 2017
Did I really just hear Neil Warnock say Sol Bamba is better defensively than Virgil van Dijk on Sky Sports News?! :joy:
- Anthony Hay (@Anthony_Hay) December 28, 2017
Now I don't think Van Dijk is worth £75m, however, Neil Warnock thinks sol bamba is a better defender than him :joy: what a fucking crackpot
- Birmingham RSC (@RSCBirmingham) December 28, 2017
I give you Neil Warnock,ladies and gentlemen.
This story was first featured on talkingbaws.com - simple, shareable sport. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.
Topics: Transfers, Neil Warnock, Southampton