Arsenal lead the chase for Dutch Man United target

Arsenal are all set to open the bidding for Celtic’s Virgil Van Dijk, according to the DailyStar.
The Gunners are being linked with an £8 Million move for the Dutch centre-back in January, with Manchester United also expected to vie for his signature.

Arsenal have left them short of defensive options this season, having sold Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona in August and failing to sign a replacement.

They have since lost key players to injury, and were even forced to give Hector Bellerin his senior debut in this season’s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Man United have also left themselves short of defensive options, having allowed both Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand to exit at the end of their respected contracts.

Van Dijk has been told by former Scottish international that he would be a great fit in the Manchester club, and that he had outgrown the Scottish Premier League.

The North-London club were claimed to have tried to sign the 23 year-old on deadline day, but the move came too late, and Celtic would not have had enough time to seek a viable replacement. They may face competition for his signature in January.