Virgil van Dijk addresses Liverpool future, confirms contract 'discussions are ongoing' - 'we will see what happens'
ByOli Gent
Published 21/10/2024 at 13:57 GMT+1
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Virgil van Dijk has said that he is in conversation with current club Liverpool over a new contract, with the Dutchman's deal at Anfield expiring at the end of the 2024/25 season, but the centre-back stopped short of committing his future to the Merseyside club. Other key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah will also be out of contract at the end of the season.
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Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that conversations over a contract renewal have begun, but admitted that he does not know whether he will stay at Liverpool beyond the summer.
The Dutch defender’s contract at Anfield expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, but his future remains up in the air after a delay to negotiations.
The same can be said of two other key players for The Reds - Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold - both of whom also see their deals run out at the end of this term.
Van Dijk has started every Premier League game under new manager Arne Slot this season, and has racked up 205 appearances for Liverpool in his six years on Merseyside.
While Van Dijk did say that talks were ongoing, he stopped short of committing his future to the Anfield outfit.
"I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don't know, we will see what happens in the future," Van Dijk said.
"My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see.
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"I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun. Discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it's time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well.
"But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see."
Alexander-Arnold and Salah’s futures are also a cause for concern for Slot, with the right-back widely linked with a move to Real Madrid, while Salah was heavily courted by Saudi side Al-Ittihad, who reportedly bid £150 million for the Egyptian in the summer of 2023.
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While three key players nearing the end of their contracts could be seen as a worry for many in Liverpool colours, manager Slot is unfazed by the swirling rumours.
"I think you underestimate our players," the Dutchman said ahead of Liverpool's weekend win over Chelsea.
"These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not.
"If you think they're disturbed by this interest then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.
"Maybe if you're 17 or 18 years of age it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same."
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