The captain’s current deal expires in three and a half months, and Virgil van Dijk has indicated when Liverpool supporters may finally expect clarity on his future.
Intriguingly, the 33-year-old stated on the eve of the Carabao Cup final that he wants to experience winning trophies “again and again and again,” but he acknowledged following the Reds’ Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain last week that he has “no idea” if he will still be at Anfield for the start of next season.
The Dutch defender has been permitted to negotiate with other teams since the beginning of January, but according to a recent update from Ben Jacobs, he is “giving priority to” LFC and is not doing so at the moment.
Van Dijk sets a deadline for his future choice.
Van Dijk’s statements, which seem to have been made following Liverpool’s Carabao Cup loss yesterday evening, were posted on X by Fabrizio Romano on Monday morning. The Reds skipper declared that a decision regarding his future would be made within the next two months.
“There will be news before the season ends,” our number four said. The most important things are that I enjoy the club and that I’m totally focused on the task at hand. I am that person.
Will Van Dijk commit to Liverpool for another term?
Van Dijk’s remarks don’t make it clear whether he will sign a new contract with Liverpool before his current one ends in June, but at least we know when we can anticipate an announcement anyway.
Depending on one’s temperament, his statement that he was “fully committed” and that he “loved” the club could be viewed in different ways. It might mean that he is still fully committed to the Reds, or that he sees a better future elsewhere and won’t stay at Anfield unless he is totally committed to the team.
It has been excruciating for LFC supporters to have so much uncertainty surrounding the futures of three key squad leaders during an outstanding season on the field, and concerns about him leaving (along with Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold) seem to have grown as the contract drama has continued.
It’ll be very intriguing to see whether either of the other two players whose terms are nearing expiry will follow Van Dijk’s lead and soon offer a clear indication as to when we can expect to find out whether or not they’ll be remaining put at Liverpool.
