Talks between Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk and Liverpool to sign a new contract have not reached a conclusion as yet, and the 33-year-old veteran centre-back is also reportedly hoping to remain at Anfield, although interest from Saudi Arabia is also rumoured.
Reporter Ahmed Al-Ajlan posted a remarkable comment on the player’s departure. He reported that Al Hilal’s chairman had travelled to London to make contact with the Dutch defender’s agent in the hope of acquiring one of the best defenders in the world.
“Serious negotiations have begun with Liverpool’s Dutch defender Van Dijk to sign him next summer before the [Club] World Cup in America,”
“According to sources, Al-Hilal president Fahad bin Nafel has already met with the player’s agent in London.”
مصادر "الجزيرة" #الهلال بدأ مفاوضات جادة مع المدافع الهولندي لليفربول "فان دايك" لضمه خلال الصيف القادم قبل مونديال أمريكا، ووفقاً للمصادر فرئيس #الهلال فهد بن نافل اجتمع بالفعل مع وكيل اللاعب في لندن . pic.twitter.com/e1ttM4JI3i
— أحمد العجلان (@ahmad2man) January 18, 2025
Since joining from Southampton in 2018, he has been the mainstay of the final line; he has been on the pitch for over 300 games and leads the defence from the back.He is a complete centre-back with many strengths outside of defence, such as accuracy with long feeds and being on target at set pieces.
He is clearly an asset that manager Arne Slot does not want to let go of, and his performances this season suggest that he will be able to perform at the same level for the next few years.
Can Liverpool sign a new contract for the Dutch defender, who is a key figure in their defence and captain of the team?