Once more there's been a link between Newcastle and a player this morning that is nothing short of fabrication based on rumours that came to nothing in the summer. Virgil Van Dijk is being suggested as a potential target when the January window opens, with the club actively pursuing centre-back targets. It might be romantic to think that Van Dijk would choose to sign for Newcastle with Celtic out of the Champions League and looking shaky at best in the league, but there are bigger fish interested in the Dutchman. And frankly, he'd be stupid to ignore their advances, which is isn't doing. The Independent have reported that Van Dijk will be a target for Arsene Wenger this winter, with the Gunners also down to three centre-backs. They say that the Gunners are preparing a £7 million bid for the 23-year-old, after their late attempt to sign him in the summer was rebuffed. Wenger has already sent scouts up to Scotland to watch him, and Van Dijk seems aware of the interest, having welcomed their attention publicly to the Metro: "Arsenal are an amazing club. Its a big club with a great history. Im happy here just now and I want to play well and well see what happens in the future. Until there are bids I cant say thing. There is no rush to leave but you never know in the future." At 23, he's a great option for Arsenal, and given his obvious excitement that they're interested, it's clear that there's only one likely destination for him, no matter what imaginative bloggers suggest.
