Liverpool have formally opened talks with the representatives of Virgil van Dijk over a new contract
Virgil van Dijk has confirmed Liverpool have formally opened contract talks with his representatives, with the captain insisting his full commitment remains at Anfield. In what is the first public admission from the Reds skipper that talks are officially underway between his agent and the club, the defender says he is hopeful of a resolution before the terms expire at the end of the campaign.
Like Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Netherlands captain Van Dijk is free to speak to clubs outside of England about a pre-contract agreement from January 1, but the 33-year-old is adamant that his “very full focus” is only on matters at Liverpool, who he has now turned out for 280 times since his £75m club-record move from Southampton at the start of 2018.
The centre-back is believed to be behind only Salah as the highest earner in the Reds’ squad and there has been speculation as a result over how willing Liverpool’s decision makers would be to hand out improved terms to a player who will be 34 before the start of next season.
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Van Dijk was tentatively linked with a summer move to the Saudi Pro League but Liverpool never had any offers from the Middle East and negotiations are now ongoing about a deal that would keep Arne Slot’s skipper at Anfield beyond the end of the current campaign.
“I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don’t know, we will see what happens in the future,” Van Dijk said, speaking after Sunday’s 2-1 win over Chelsea at Anfield. “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. I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun.
“What the future brings I have no idea at the moment, but like I said in my previous answer, 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.
“My own form is fine. I will let others do the talking, I don’t want to talk about myself. It is not me who is not conceding, it is all of us who are not conceding. I’m the captain, yes, but I am feeling very fine.”
The win against Enzo Maresca’s side saw Slot’s men regain top spot in the Premier League after they were briefly usurped by Manchester City, who rescued a last-gasp win at Wolves through John Stones’s stoppage-time header.
The result against the Londoners was the first of a difficult seven-game run between now and the next international break and the Reds will travel to RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Wednesday before a trip to Arsenal on Sunday, who are looking to bounce back from Saturday’s loss to Bournemouth.
After that, back-to-back games with Brighton in the Carabao Cup and Premier League are on the agenda before a visit from Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League ahead of a home clash with Aston Villa later that week.
Van Dijk added: “Listen, on paper it looks like it is a very tough run of games and it is, and also what makes it difficult is we travel and it is about staying fit, keeping the rhythm.
“But I am looking forward to it. This is what you want to do, you want to play on the highest level and perform and show what we can do. So let’s go for it.
“It was a difficult game I think, for both teams, especially coming after the international break, it is never easy. We saw that after the last international break but I think it was a very good team performance today and a well deserved win.
“Everyone can have their opinion but I know, like I think a lot of people know opinions can change every three days now in terms of [people saying] someone can win the league and someone can’t. I think there is no point listening to any of that. I don’t do that.
“I focus on one game at a time, I want to be successful, I want to win trophies in every competition we’re in, I want to try and win it. We know how difficult it is but I am going to give it a very good go I think.”
Van Dijk also reserved a word for match-winner Curtis Jones, who turned in an impressive performance in midfield in the absence of Alexis Mac Allister, just days after becoming a father for the first time.
“I think it’s been an amazing couple of weeks for him on a personal level,” Van Dijk said of Jones. “Of course becoming a dad for the first time and I am happy everything went well there, that is the most important thing.
“He was man of the match today, scoring the winner which is always important but apart from that he was outstanding in the defensive work he did. He kept Cole Palmer very quiet and I think that is what pleased me the most.
“Unfortunately injuries are part of the game and I think he knows when he plays he has to deliver. So today was a good day for him and us and he just has to keep going down the path. Don’t get dragged too much into the positivity and keep going.
“I speak to everyone when I think a certain player needs it. Probably we have more players who do that too and we have a great team in that way. We have to just be there for each other and that is the only way to success. We all know that.
“I think there were probably plenty of moments when we spoke about certain things and that is part of being a team. You go through so many things together, some good things and other not so good things, so that is what we all have to do, just be there for each other.”
