Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has hailed the impact of defender Virgil van Dijk since his arrival from Celtic last summer. Van Dijk moved to St Marys on Deadline Day last September for a fee in the region of £11.5m and has put in a number of impressive performances for the club so far this season.The Holland international was an ever-present in Southamptons run of seven straight Premier League clean sheets earlier this year and has helped his side record the joint-third best defensive record in the top-flight alongside Arsenal and Watford, and only behind Tottenham and Manchester United. And Koeman insists his fellow countryman is crucial to Southampton as they battle to qualify for Europe. Van Dijk has built up an impressive partnership with Jose Fonte He is strong, hes fast and hes important in the way we like to build-up [from the back], Koeman said on Monday Night Football.He is good at short passing, he has a good long pass and he has got a good partnership with Jose Fonte and last Saturday he was good in tandem with Ryan Bertrand. He is strong, hes fast and hes important in the way we like to build-up [from the back]. Koeman on Van Dijk He is also a good header of the ball, has a good shot and is a good free-kick taker. Hes a very good centre-back.Despite Van Dijks form this season, Koeman revealed he did have doubts about signing his fellow countryman from Celtic. Van Dijks Champions League experience convinced Koeman to sign him My only worry with Virgil was that we signed him from Celtic in the Scottish league, Koeman added. Its different from the Premier League.It makes it a little more tricky but he had experience of playing against Barcelona in the Champions League, so in the end there was no doubt about it.Meanwhile, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher echoed Koemans praise of Van Dijk, claiming Southamptons defensive record is evidence of the Dutchmans growing influence. Jamie Carragher thinks Van Dijk has been outstanding for Siants so far this season Carragher said: Obviously I look at centre-backs in the league and I think he has been fantastic. The defensive record shows that. When he first came in I thought he was more interested in playing on the ball but hes been outstanding defensively. Also See: David targets Europa return Saints appeal Mane red card Koeman v Benitez Carragher on Benitez Gary Harris Nuggets Jersey . The former Toronto FC designated player played three of his 15 professional seasons with the team. Paul Millsap Nuggets Jersey . Crawford hit his slam off Pirates starter Edinson Volquez to give San Francisco a four run lead in the fourth and they never looked back. Brandon Belt had three runs batted in as well. Bumgarner pitched all nine innings and allowed just four hits. http://www.nuggetsproshop.com/Tyler-Lydo...s-Jersey/." Argos general manager Jim Barker uttered those words during an interview with TSN 1050 radio just prior to the CFLs annual free agent frenzy. Alex English Jersey . Mako Vunipola was promoted from the reserves, with Matt Mullan called up to the bench on Thursday. "It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time," England coach Stuart Lancaster said. Malik Beasley Jersey . Sterling was banned for life and fined US$2.5 million by the NBA on Tuesday for racist comments the league says he made in a recorded conversation. Nash, who plays for the rival L.A. Lakers, spoke as a representative of current NBA players at a press conference assembled by Sacramento mayor and National Basketball Players Association adviser Kevin Johnson.LOS ANGELES -- Shelly Sterling was reviewing bids from five groups interested in buying the Los Angeles Clippers, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The individual, who wasnt authorized to speak publicly about the deal, said if an agreement to sell is reached before next Tuesday, the leagues owners wouldnt meet in New York to vote on terminating Donald Sterlings ownership. The individual wouldnt specify the interested buyers, but described them as major players with considerable financial means. The person told the AP the sale price "appears to be increasing to an unbelievable number," and that it could soar past US$1.5 to $2 billion, and possibly more. Another person familiar with the negotiations said Shelly Sterlings lawyers, bankers and others involved in the process were in a locked room reviewing the bids, which were due by 2 p.m. PDT Wednesday. The individual wasnt authorized to publicly discuss the sensitive and competitive negotiations. Donald Sterlings lawyer, Bobby Samini, said there would be no sale of the team without Donald Sterlings involvement, though he declined to say whether Sterling was involved in reviewing bids or in touch with Shelly Sterling. "Mr. Sterling is an owner of the team, and there will be no sale of the team without his involvement," Samini said. But a May 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press and written by another one of Sterlings lawyers says that "Donald T. Sterling authorizes Rochelle Sterling to negotiate with the National Basketball Association regarding all issues in connection with a sale of the Los Angeles Clippers team." It includes the line "read and approved" and Donald Sterlings signature. NBA spokesman Mike Bass said the leagues advisory/finance committee met Wednesday by phone to discuss the separate responses from Donald and Shelly Sterling to the NBA on its efforts to terminate the Sterlings ownership of the Clippers. The first individual told the AP that the leagues owners know a sale couldnt be completed by next Tuesday. But if an agreement was in place, the NBA would give the Sterlings extra time before holding any meetings. The individual said the league hopes a voluntary sale would remove the potential of legal action being taken by the Sterlings. The person told the AP that at this point, with Donald Sterling saying he plans to fight the matter in court, the NBA intends to go forward with the meeting in New York on June 3. A forced sale would require approval by three-fourths of the leagues 30 owners. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has said he is confident he would get the necessary votes. On Tuesday, Donald Sterling issued a fiery response to the leagues attempt to oust him. The league charged that he had damaged it and its merchandising partners with his racist comments about blacks in a recording released last month.dddddddddddd He argued that there is no basis for stripping him of his team because his statements were illegally recorded "during an inflamed lovers quarrel in which he was clearly distraught." According to the response, a copy of which was obtained by the AP, Sterling says girlfriend V. Stiviano recorded him without his knowledge, which is illegal under California law. He also said he could not have "wilfully" damaged the league because he did not know it would be made public. "We do not believe a court in the United States of America will enforce the draconian penalties imposed on Mr. Sterling in these circumstances, and indeed, we believe that preservation of Mr. Sterlings constitutional rights requires that these sham proceedings be terminated in Mr. Sterlings favour," the response said. Donald Sterling was banned for life and fined $2.5 million by Silver after the recording was made public. It is possible Shelly Sterling could complete an expedited sale of the team despite her husbands legal wranglings, according to Daniel Lazaroff, director of the Sports Law Institute at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. "She would have to be willing to go through with a sale that gave her absolutely no retained ownership interest in order to satisfy the league," said Lazaroff, a law professor at the school. "If she did that, I dont think the league would stand in her way. If she wants to retain any portion of ownership it wouldnt work." Even if Shelly Sterling accepts an offer, the league has the right to approve potential owners, a lengthy process that would almost certainly not be completed by next Tuesday. "The best case scenario is she finds a suitable buyer," Lazaroff said. "That would work for the league and from a financial standpoint that would work for the Sterlings. If the sale price is satisfactory, the smart thing might be to just get out. Hes a businessman who understands buy low and sell high." Donald Sterling purchased the Clippers for $12 million in 1981, making him the leagues longest-tenured owner. He argued in his response to the leagues charges that he cant get a fair hearing next week because the other owners have already made up their minds to oust him. Lazaroff noted that Sterling signed the NBAs constitution when he joined the league, and its bylaws spell out specific procedures for terminating ownership. He said as long as the league follows its own rules it should be on solid legal ground. "I could see a happy ending to this," Lazaroff said, "but it will depend on both of the Sterlings being out of the picture." ' ' '