The Saudi Professional League has attracted a number of famous players, including Brazilian international Neymar, former French international Karim Benzema and Portuguese midfielder Rubén Neves. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino from Liverpool also decided to go to the Middle East.
And the Saudis are still looking for aggressive reinforcements this summer. Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson and midfielder Kevin De Bruyne are among the targets, with Egypt international Mohamed Salah and Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who has signed for Liverpool, no exception.
Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is one such player, who is being targeted at a time when he has less than a year remaining on his contract. Liverpool have no intention of selling the team captain and negotiations will take place this summer with a view to renewing his contract.
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are demanding €55 million in a transfer fee from the Saudi Arabian club who are looking to acquire the 33-year-old centre-back, who is also captain of the Dutch national team, after hinting he is leaving the club.
If a renewal is not forthcoming, a free transfer would be available next summer. It is natural for Liverpool to want to recoup some money rather than have him leave without a transfer fee, but it is not easy to replace a defensive leader and they would like him to stay on for one more year and impart leadership of the final line.
He made some well meaning comments after EURO 2024 ended, and we await the outcome of discussions with manager Arne Slott and SD Richard Hughes after the holidays.
“Right now I don’t have any ideas. I will think long and hard this summer about what I want to do at club level and as an international player. Then I’ll work hard again, but first I have to recover from this.”
“You get emotional at the end because you know that after a season like this, where so much has happened, it’s over.”