Cardiff's Bamba a better defender than Van Dijk, says Warnock
Virgil van Dijk might be about to become the most expensive defender in history but Neil Warnock would not swap him for Cardiff's Sol Bamba.
Liverpool's £75million man Virgil van Dijk is an inferior defender to Sol Bamba, according to Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock.
Netherlands centre-back Van Dijk will become the most expensive defender in history when he completes his move from Southampton to Anfield on January 1, with his reported fee immediately sparking frenzied debate.
Cardiff boss Warnock, whose side lie third in the Championship as they chase promotion to the top flight, added an unexpected strand to the conversation by claiming the 32-year-old and well-travelled Bamba is better in terms of pure defending.
"I think Sol Bamba is slightly better than Van Dijk, defensive-wise," he said.
"Van Dijk's got better attributes on the ball but I don't think he's a better defender than Sol Bamba.
"I think Van Dijk's is easier on the eye but I don't think he's better defensively."