De Ligt? Probably a no for me. A few years ago when he was emerging he looked the part. Since then he has had massive wages, a lot of fanfare, and itās all been a bit meh on the actual pitch.
Thatās not to say someone wonāt benefit from a player who does have something, but the likely transfer fee, coupled with the high wages that would assume a sure thing who is a top level operator, lean me towards a no, not now.
If it is a distressed price and reasonable wages, letās talk.
As for leadership, Iām not quite sure what we are looking for on a football pitch. First and foremost I want good players who will do their job. They will be well trained and ready to win. Slot and his team sorts all that and sends them out prepared to do their job.
Then on the actual pitch itself, if things arenāt going according to plan and you have to dig deep, or cajole your teammates to give their all or whatever, yesā¦ I see that as leadership, but I also see it as doing your job. Itās a bit of both.
One other aspect of leadership is leading by example. So if we have a brilliant player that everyone counts on, they are a leader. But they must also have the other stuff - doing their job, fighting hard for the team, lifting others, etc. or they veer toward prima donna.
Thereās another sense of leadership that usually comes with experience. Thatās not to say young players canāt be leaders, as clearly they can. But when you have built up a bit of a track record, you have the right to speak, and your teammates will have a bit more confidence in you.
Itās hard to say how long VVD has left, probably two more seasons at Liverpool at a guess? And over that time new leaders will grow and emerge in the defence.
Quansah might well be one of them, letās see. A new team is emerging after changes last season, and itās always an opportunity to stake a claim.