Arne Slot is worried about losing Liverpool skipper Virgil Van Dijk this summer
New Liverpool manager Arne Slot has not completed a month at the helm at Anfield and is already facing concerns regarding the future of Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk. The Dutchman’s current deal at Anfield expires in 2025 and he is yet to pen a fresh agreement.
Van Dijk has made it known that he is keen to extend his stay on Merseyside but as of yet there has been no progress in contract negotiations. With talks now stalled, the skipper’s futrure at Anfield has been called into question given serious interest in his servces from the Middle East.
According to TEAMtalk, Van Dijk continues to be linked heavily with Al Nassr, who are keen to see him succeed Aymeric Laporte. Adding the Dutchman to the roster will certainly give the Cristiano Ronaldo led side a good chance of toppling Al Hilal for Saudi Pro League supremacy.
As things stand, Van Dijk is seen as a summer priority, and the Saudi Public Investment Fund is expected to meet with the player’s representatives in the upcoming weeks. Time will tell whether this is a tactic to speed up negotiations between the player and Liverpool regarding a new contract or if these are warning signs of an impending exit.
Significant developments regarding Van Dijk’s future are unlikely to occur anytime soon, as the 32-year-old intends to delay any decision on his future until after UEFA Euro 2024 concludes. Captaining the Netherlands in his first-ever European Championship campaign, it is fair to say that Van Dijk is not taking his eye off the ball.
While Van Dijk is certainly not getting any younger, it is in the club’s best interests to retain him at least for another season. Bringing in a young defender as an understudy this summer while retaining the Dutchman will ensure there is a succession plan in place for when Van Dijk is eventually moved on.
While Jarell Quansah’s emergence is a welcome development, Liverpool’s pursuit of Leny Yoro could indicate that the Anfield hierarchy is already looking towards the future. A center-back quartet of Quansah, Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, and potentially Yoro can future-proof the role for years to come.
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Van Dijk’s abilities may be waning, but he remains a top defender with plenty left in the tank. With Arne Slot and his team set to build upon Jurgen Klopp’s foundations, retaining the skipper will certainly help ease the transition. The last thing Liverpool wants is for wholesale changes to disrupt their continued evolution in recent years. As of now, the Saudi giants have yet to make a concrete offer to Liverpool for Van Dijk. Unless speculation regarding his contract is put to rest soon, this news is unlikely to go away anytime soon.
