Souness warns Liverpool regarding the Klopp favourite uncertain future amid Arne Slot arrival
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness warns the club about captain Virgil Van Dijk‘s uncertain future at the Reds. The Liverpool skipper might not come to an agreement over his stay with the upcoming manager.
Three significant contract decisions are waiting for new Liverpool manager Arne Slot in his inbox. The Dutchman will assume the role of “head coach” at Anfield and handle transfer negotiations alongside Richard Hughes, the new sporting director.
Without a doubt, Liverpool has one of the best teams in Europe right now, but several players could leave the team this summer, along with Klopp. The world-class defender has been reluctant to commit his future to the club, and his current contract expires in 2025.
Van Dijk’s contract issue worries Souness because he believes a team like Real Madrid would make a move for the “unhappy” Liverpool player. It’s important to remember that Real Madrid have already monitored Van Dijk. Early in the year, sources suggested that the Spanish powerhouses had an interest in the Dutch defender.
Additionally, according to Souness, the seasoned defender will have “asked questions” about the arrival of Arne Slot and his desire to remain with the team for the upcoming era. Souness told William Hill’s Three Up Front podcast (h/t Team Talk):
“He’ll have asked questions about the new manager already and will be the one that Arne Slot has to win over. Slot must get Van Dijk onside – he’s the captain – but Van Dijk might not fancy him.”
“He might’ve heard something on the grapevine and may think that this guy won’t take the team where they want to be, the clock is ticking on his career, maybe he needs to go someplace else to win more silverware. He has won two of the big ones with Liverpool, but he’s not a serial winner.”
Van Dijk arrived at Anfield from Southampton in January 2018 after Liverpool paid a then-record £75 million for a defender and the Dutchman soon established himself as a key member of the team. The Dutchman was crucial to Liverpool’s Champions League victory in 2019 and then again the following year as the Reds ended their Premier League title drought.
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The Liverpool captain has remarkably led his team on several critical occasions, with a huge contribution of 267 appearances since he joined the Merseyside.
Van Dijk, who had hopes of winning the Premier League this season, has given off a dissatisfied vibe. Given his continued excellent performances, you would think Liverpool would give getting him a new contract top priority. Losing the Dutch star would be unimaginable for the clubs as well as the fans.
