Virgil van Dijk delivers surprising Liverpool contract update, shifting focus ahead of Man City showdown.
Virgil van Dijk has followed Mohamed Salah in sharing a surprising update about his Liverpool contract situation.
Last week, Salah sparked significant speculation when he revealed, after Liverpool’s win over Southampton, that he has yet to receive a contract offer and is “probably more out than in.” Salah’s contract expires this summer, allowing him to negotiate with foreign clubs starting in January if no extension is agreed upon before then.
In a now-viral video, Van Dijk, seen smirking as he walked by during Salah’s media interaction, is reportedly in a similar position. Ahead of Liverpool’s crucial clash with Manchester City on Sunday, the Dutch defender admitted there is no progress on a new deal but confirmed ongoing discussions between the club and his agent.
Speaking to Viaplay, Van Dijk said:
“To be honest, no, there’s no update, no news. So I have nothing to share with you. If you’ve read reports about agreements or no agreements, all of that is NOT TRUE. Everything has to align. Of course, there are discussions happening between the club and my agent, but right now, there’s nothing to announce. My focus is on playing football and finishing the season successfully. We’ll see what next year brings.”
His comments come after reports claimed it’s a “formality” that Van Dijk will sign a new deal, with his agent reportedly telling interested clubs he’s “no longer attainable.”
On Wednesday, when asked about his future, Van Dijk was even playfully linked to Real Madrid by a journalist who suggested the Spanish side “needs defenders” due to injuries to David Alaba and Éder Militão. Van Dijk replied jokingly, “Rüdiger is there?” When pressed further about a possible summer move to Madrid, he laughed and said, “Wow. I don’t know. My main focus is facing Man City.”
Van Dijk joined Liverpool in January 2018 for a then-record £75 million fee for a defender. Since then, he has played a key role in the team’s success, winning the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
