Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk’s contract with Liverpool ends this season. Despite turning 34 this July, he remains one of the best in the Premier League and leads the final line.
Talks are underway to sign a new contract, but no official announcement has been made by the club at this stage, which continues to be frustrating for supporters.
Former Portuguese defender José Fonte, who together formed a defensive line and built a solid defence at Southampton, told his former partner at centre-back that he could maintain his current level for the next four years or so, and predicted that he would not be surprised if he moved to a top club in Spain or Germany
“Van Dijk would thrive at Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich, and I would not be surprised to see him at one of those clubs next season,”
“I would not be surprised to see him at one of those clubs next season because those clubs will be looking for defenders as reliable as Van Dijk, and everyone will be watching if he reaches the end of the season without signing a new contract.”
“He can still play at the highest level and has shown that he can take care of himself. He will have no problem maintaining that level for three or four more years.”
Mundo Deportivo
For Liverpool, losing a defensive leader is a big loss.Whether it is Ibrahima Konate or Joe Gomez, the Dutch centre-back is still not good enough to hold defenders together and his presence is essential.
Will the Merseyside club be able to sign a contract renewal for their defensive leader and team captain…?