PUNDIT Martin Keown said how Jannik Vestergaard’s passing reminded him of ex-Saints star Virgil van Dijk.

Danish central defender Vestergaard had been in stellar form for Saints this season, before being hit with a knee injury before Christmas.

But until that point, former Arsenal and England centre-back Keown said he had seen similarities in Vestergaard’s game to that of the Dutchman.

Defender van Dijk moved from St Mary’s to Anfield in January 2018 for £75million – having played 80 times for the south coast side.

Speaking about Vestergaard on talkSPORT, Keown said: “It’s his passing. It reminds me of van Dijk.

“I call it a stationary platform. When you don’t run with the ball you stop and when you look at those two, the way they ping balls, the way he threads things into midfield, the challenges, he’s a big man.”

Vestergaard signed a four-year deal at Saints when arriving from Borussia Monchengladbach for £18million in July 2018.

Keown added: “Of course Southampton are not going to let him go but it’s really a testament to the work that’s been done at Southampton, how much they’re catching the eye at the moment.”