Virgil van Dijk recently praised the quality of likely Manchester City signing Nathan Ake, but added that top defenders need more than just that these days.
Dutch defender Ake is set to complete a £41million move from Bournemouth to City in the coming days, after the relegated Cherries accepted the fee for their top defender.
Van Dijk is well aware of Ake's ability having lined up alongside him on international duty, and now the pair seem set to go head-to-head for Premier League glory as key players for the last two English champions.
The duo last faced each other in what became Liverpool and Bournemouth's final Premier League match before coronavirus lockdown, with Callum Wilson giving the Cherries the lead at Anfield before Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane - with a Van Dijk assist - struck to earn the Reds a 2-1 win.
After the match, Van Dijk was asked his opinion on Ake by the Bournemouth Daily Echo.
“First of all, he’s a fantastic guy,” he said.
“I speak with him quite a bit at the national team and I think he’s a fantastic player as well.
“On Saturday he showed with clearances and I think he stepped up when he had the armband as well. It’s just good to see that he’s improving.
“I don’t know what might happen with him in the future with Bournemouth, you just have to stay grounded – but I am not worried about that at all.
“He has the quality but he has to have more than just the quality these days. But he’s still young, he’s improving and you never know what decision might happen.
“It’s all dependent on how the season will end for Bournemouth, too – but I am very positive about him. He’s a fantastic guy and player as well.”
Ake is poised to complete his transfer to City in the coming days.
