Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk has rebuilt Liverpool’s defence as a defensive leader immediately after joining from Southampton. He has high individual ability and is not so easily beaten in one-on-one defence.
He took over from Jordan Henderson as captain last season. As the mental pillar not only of the final line but also of the whole team, he continued to lead the team through a succession of injuries and contributed to the third-place finish in the Premier League as well as winning the Carabao Cup.
The 33-year-old centre-back has a contract with Liverpool until June 2025. Talks are expected to take place this summer to renew his contract, but the former Southampton defender sees remaining at Anfield as a priority and is open to signing a new deal, according to HITC.
He made a total of 270 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 23 goals and providing 12 assists. He is a target for corner kicks and free kicks and threatens opponents with his overwhelming aerial ability.
He can also break the deadlock with accurate feeds from the final line and is the epitome of a modern centre-back.
Manager Arne Slot considers his countryman defender to be a key player and does not plan to sell the player, who is also attracting interest from Saudi Arabia: at 33, he is still one of the best players in the world and will remain at Anfield for the next few years, with a view to nurturing his successor.
Liverpool’s policy is to keep him at Anfield for the next few years, with a view to nurturing his successor.
With contract negotiations with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold also on the horizon, will talks with core members of the squad, which are more important than player reinforcements, lead to a positive outcome…?