Jaap Stam says Liverpool have a player who is simply 'the best'
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Liverpool have a keen eye for bringing in the world’s best talent to the club.
The recent summer transfer window was not just a show of strength from Arne Slot’s idea but also proof, if anyone needed it, that the Reds can attract big-name players who have that star quality about them.
After signing players like Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz in some of the most high-profile announcements of the window, it is no secret that the Merseyside club mean business once again this season.
But it is not just the players we have signed who are likely to bring their expertise to the squad; there are already players who show up week in and week out who are considered among the world’s best.
Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Fans are blessed with players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alisson Becker being stalwarts of the club and delivering history for this great institution.
Their names sit alongside club legends, and the contract extensions of van Dijk and Salah were necessary to ensure the club can compete at a world level.
It is not only the supporters who admire these world-class players, but pundits who used to be in the category of best in their position have also shown their love.
None more so than former Dutch international and Manchester United defender Jaap Stam, who is a huge fan of one particular man in this incredible team.
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Speaking to Voetbalprimeur Netherlands, Stam had to choose Liverpool’s No.
4 as the best in the world because of what he brings as a central defender.
He said: “I think Virgil is the best defender in the world.
“Nobody’s perfect, but with his charisma, physique, heading ability, passing ability, and leadership skills, he has the whole package.
“In one-on-one situations, Virgil has only gotten better.
He’s the complete defender if you look at what the future demands of a defender.”
The former United man has been full of praise for the defender in the past, so it is no wonder that he holds him in such high regard, especially as a compatriot.
While Jaap was an integral part of the Red Devils squad, which had dominated English football in the 90s and 2000s, there are some things that the Dutchman has never been able to achieve.
While many would not necessarily hold the award in too high regard due to the way it is voted on, Stam only achieved a 12th-place finish as the highest in his time at United.
Virgil had been able to achieve an incredibly strong second-place finish behind Lionel Messi, but in all probability should have won that year.
The only reason the Argentine had won was due to his name value and history at the ceremony.
There was a stronger argument that the 34-year-old defender should have joined the three-name list of centre-halves to hold the title of best in the world.