"He's outstanding" - Van Dijk says he would love for Liverpool to sign "unbelievable" Man City player

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has named Man City star Kevin De Bruyne as the non-Reds player he would most like to play alongside at Anfield.

Since moving to the Premier League in the summer of 2015, when he signed for Southampton from Scottish giants Celtic, Van Dijk has played alongside some of the best players in the world.

In the last seven years, the Netherlands international has established himself as one of the top centre-backs in football. And following his arrival at Liverpool in 2018, Van Dijk has won a total of seven trophies (to add to the three he secured at Celtic), and lifted the PFA Player of the Year award and the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award for the 2018/19 season.

One of the biggest rivals of Van Dijk and Liverpool in that time, certainly on a domestic level, has been Man City.

Pep Guardiola's side have only won four of the 15 meetings between the two sides since Van Dijk joined the Reds (Liverpool have won seven).

However, the Citizens have won three Premier League titles to Liverpool's one.

And speaking to Gary Neville on The Overlap, Van Dijk was asked to pick the one player he would most love to play alongside - but hasn't yet been able to. And he identified one City star.

Van Dijk names De Bruyne as dream signing

The 31-year-old centre-back stated: "Kevin De Bruyne. I think he's unbelievable.

"If he would have played at Liverpool, we'd have gone even further than we already are.

"I think he's outstanding. Good on the ball, pressing, scoring. He's got everything as a modern day midfielder, and footballer in general. I think he's an outstanding player."

It is hard to argue with Van Dijk, given De Bruyne's status as one of the best footballers on the planet.

The Belgian is more renowned as a creator, with his incredible passing ability able to split open even the sturdiest and most accomplished of defences.

His best season, statistically, was in 2019/20, when he provided a remarkable 20 assists in just 35 appearances.

He could be well on his way towards that tally this term, with nine assists in his opening 12 games.

But De Bruyne is a perfectly capable goalscorer as well, with the 15 goals he netted last campaign his career-best tally over a season.

He also has physicality, aggression, and can take an incredible free-kick as well - as Leicester found out in the Citizens' 1-0 win over them last weekend.

Would Liverpool have won more trophies with De Bruyne in the team? It's almost certain that they would have.