Virgil van Dijk has given Liverpool a huge boost after revealing there has been “progress” in his contract talks. It is the clearest sign yet that Holland defender Van Dijk will sign a new deal and commit his future to Anfield beyond this summer.
Van Dijk, who turns 34 in July, wants a two-year extension with Liverpool keen to thrash out new deals for their captain and also top scorer Mo Salah.
It would be a perfect boost for Kop boss Arne Slot ahead of their run-in if they can get Van Dijk tied down with Liverpool chasing down a record equalling 20th title. Van Dijk said: “There is progress, yeah. I don’t know, we’ll see. Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.
“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again and we wanted to reward them at Fulham. But want I them to be there against West Ham on Sunday again and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.”
Those words are music to the ears of Liverpool fans who are resigned to losing Trent Alexander-Arnold this summer with the England star set to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
That will be a hammer blow for Liverpool who are expecting a big summer in the transfer market as they also target a new centre forward – Newcastle’s Alexander Isak is on their hit list – as well as a new defender. They also want Bournemouth left back Milos Kerkez.
But they are keen for Salah – who is their 32 goal top scorer – to also stay and his contract talks have been equally protracted for the Egypt star. Salah, who is 33 in June, also wants a longer deal but is already on around £350,000-a-week and clearly his pace and age could be an even bigger factor as a forward.
But there is optimism that deals can be struck for both van Dijk and Salah and that would underpin any further squad improvements for next season.
Slot has already overseen an incredible first season in charge, they are just four wins from the title but the Liverpool boss wants them to be even stronger next year.
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