Arsenal turned down chance to sign Virgil van Dijk

Arsenal are reported to have refused the chance to sign Virgil van Dijk during his time at former club Celtic.

The Gunners were hot on the trail of the Netherlands international during his stint at Parkhead but they are said to have ignored the chance to sign him because he was nonchalant.

According to The Sun, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had kept a close watch on the Dutchman's proceedings at Celtic but then-chief scout Steve Rowley urged the club to look elsewhere with the player possessing a nonchalant behaviour.

Thereafter, Van Dijk made the switch to Southampton for around £13m in the summer of 2015 and following 80 appearances for the Saints, he joined Liverpool in a world-record £75m fee for a defender last winter.

Van Dijk has since been a regular starter for Jurgen Klopp's side across all competitions and he has already racked nearly 30 appearances while also participating in a Champions League final against Real Madrid last term.