After leaving Southampton, Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk dramatically improved his defence as the leader of the last line of defence immediately after moving to Liverpool.
After a period of poor performances due to serious injury, Van Dijk has returned to a level reminiscent of his prime in recent years.
The 33-year-old centre-back has formed a solid defence this season alongside French defender Ibrahima Konate, but talks over renewing his current contract, which is due to expire soon, remain at a standstill. If no agreement is reached, he will leave Anfield this summer.
The former Southampton defender suggested that negotiations could drag on until the end of the season and claimed that the players themselves do not know what will happen at the moment
“Listen, [possibly waiting until the season is over] is definitely the case, so we will see what happens,”
“Maybe I will run this [contract] fully down and then there is still no news, I don’t know.”
“I don’t know at this stage and I said that the other day (after PSG game). But I don’t want to create any anxiety or anything like that, I just keep my head down and focus on hopefully winning the next 10 games and that is my full focus: to be there for the manager, the players, the fans.”
“So let’s see what it brings and I am sure by the end of the season there will be news. But what kind of news I am not sure.”
“Well at the moment I can’t [see myself at another club] because there are still 10 games to go. I can’t think about what is going to happen after the summer.”
“Like I said, the most important thing is to stay committed and I am fully committed to Liverpool Football Club at the moment and there is no doubt about that. You can see that, there is no other thing that is about so let’s just see.”
“It’s not a one, two, three discussion and there we go. There are multiple factors and as long as I am calm to you guys (the media) then there is no need to panic, whatever may happen in the future. If I was worried you would see me playing a little bit worried and that is not the case.”
Although it is said that both the club and the players want to remain at Anfield, the negotiation situation continues to stagnate.
We are not privy to inside information on what aspects have not been agreed, which raises doubts as to whether they will really leave at the end of the season.
If so, what will happen to reinforcements? Despite the various yakking feelings arising from this, the disadvantages of Liverpool letting Van Dijk go now are immense, and hopefully good news will be reported soon…