Virgil van Dijk recently praised the quality of likely Manchester City signing Nathan Ake, but added that top defenders need more than just that these days.
Dutch defender Ake is set to complete a £41million move from Bournemouth to City in the coming days, after the relegated Cherries accepted the fee for their top defender.
Van Dijk is well aware of Ake's ability having lined up alongside him on international duty, and now the pair seem set to go head-to-head for Premier League glory as key players for the last two English champions.
The duo last faced each other in what became Liverpool and Bournemouth's final Premier League match before coronavirus lockdown, with Callum Wilson giving the Cherries the lead at Anfield before Mohamed
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