New Tottenham signing Steven Bergwijn has earned praise from the best defender in the Premier League.
Virgil van Dijk has seen plenty of Bergwijn up close as they play together for the Dutch national team.
And Holland skipper Van Dijk reckons the former PSV flyer could be a valuable player for Spurs this season… and his country at this summer’s Euros.
Van Dijk was quoted in the Daily Star as saying: “Yes, he’s a great player. He has to be otherwise he wouldn’t have made the transfer.
“But it’s all about showing it on the pitch also. So he has to work hard, enjoy also the moment and progress and be patient as well.
“If that’s the case in the next six months, then it will benefit us in the Euros as well.”
Bergwijn has big shoes to fill in N17, having taken the no.23 shirt vacated by Inter Milan’s latest marquee signing, Christian Eriksen.
But while Eriksen has experience in his favour, Bergwijn has form. The 22-year-old has five goals and 10 assists to his name in the Eredivisie this season – compared to Eriksen’s two goals and two assists in 20 Premier League outings.
Although the Premier League often takes some getting used to, Bergwijn has some experience of facing English sides already. He played the full 120 minutes as Holland beat England in the Nations League semis in June, after starting in PSV’s narrow defeat by Spurs at Wembley seven months earlier.
It’s wait and see, as always, no matter the reputation or previous form.
We wish him all the best; ASAP.
Jansen had good form in Holland too.