Sunderland have been linked with some massive names over time, which in some circumstances may have led to an entire turnaround from the place the membership is now.
There is no such thing as a touted transfer with extra potential to have achieved this than when the Black Cats have been linked with Virgil van Dijk again in 2015.
Would Virgil van Dijk have stopped Sunderland’s stoop to League One?
Sure
No
Gus Poyet even just lately got here out to say that he had watched him within the Dutch league when he labored for Brighton & Hove Albion, so while he was supervisor of the Wearside membership he was “very, very ” within the then-Celtic defender.
In truth, the Day by day Mail even reported that that they had an £8m bid lined up for the defender.
Everybody now is aware of his story although, of how that switch didn’t materialise as he moved to Southampton, earlier than becoming a member of Liverpool in a world file price for a defender.
All of it may have been so totally different had Sunderland simply taken the plunge on the Dutchman who was on fireplace for the Scottish champions.
He has since gone on to win practically all the pieces on the Reds while being topped the PFA Gamers’ Participant of the 12 months and UEFA males’s Participant of the 12 months in 2019. CIES Soccer Observatory even charges the defensive “monster” at €50m (£45m) these days.
The 31-year-old, for a interval, was extensively recognised as the very best centre-back in world soccer and has been talked about in conversations with among the best ever to do it.
While the £220k-per-week star has accomplished his rise, Sunderland have fallen from the Premier League all the way in which to League One and at the moment are caught hoping for promotion from the Championship.
Not solely was he immense for the Saints, the place he recorded a 7.48 SofaScore ranking through the 2016/17 season, but additionally the £75m price they finally obtained would certainly have gone a great distance in the direction of stopping the huge stoop they confronted.
One instance that will not have been as excessive profile was Jack Rodwell’s refusal to depart the membership, as he drained them along with his £70k-per-week wages while within the Championship.
So many issues would have been totally different had they simply taken the danger, and this switch will eternally stay one of many greatest ones that received away from Sunderland.
