A major part of Liverpool's Premier League title challenge has been the form of impressive centre-half Virgil van Dijk and as far as former Celtic boss Neil Lennon is concerned it is no great surprise.
Lennon worked with the Dutch defender while at Celtic. Van Dijk spent two years with the Scottish champions before moving to the Premier League, a transfer Lennon claims he foresaw from a long way out.
Speaking on BT Sport, Lennon explained that it took one training session to know he was destined for greater things.
"I was really surprised no one came in earlier for him at Celtic. After one day I pulled him in after training and said 'look, you are not going to be here long. Enjoy yourself.' He was just that good. I could not believe my luck that we got him from Groningen for €2 million. He had everything."
"After one day I pulled him in after training and said to him he wouldn't be here long, so to enjoy yourself."
When Celtic signed Virgil van Dijk it became very clear to Neil Lennon the calibre of player they had ?#SaturdaySav pic.twitter.com/ITQPYUSPcO
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 16, 2019
Van Dijk did eventually move on to Southampton, before joining Liverpool in 2018.
While the Celtic Park faithful will not like the idea that the club is a stepping stone, it is an issue that has carried on in recent times. Last summer Dedryck Boyata reportedly downed tools in a bid to push through a move while Moussa Dembélé also forced through a move to Lyon.
