Whether one of them is Van Dijk, or not, we need to target two centre halves, and a midfielder than is capable of giving proper protection to the two centre halves.
To be saying we need to target two centre halves and a defensively capable midfielder in the January transfer window, just goes to show what a dog's breakfast we made of the Summer window.
It's not just personnel though, it's structural aspects of the way we play that need altering too.
The structural part can be done without a single signing. You can't have both fullbacks going forward, and the midfield two pushing on also, basically leaving the centre halves on their own at the point at which possession changes hands. Surely there's a defensively savvy midfielder that can play a ten/fifteen yard pass to a team mate successfully, out there somewhere to buy.