Virgil van Dijk appears over Mohamed Salah's shoulder
Virgil van Dijk appears over Mohamed Salah's shoulder
Virgil van Dijk may have dropped a bigger hint than anyone when it comes to his and Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool futures.
Both Reds stars have less than a year remaining on their respective deals - and would be free to engage in talks with foreign clubs next month. Salah dropped a bombshell recently, claiming that he had yet to be offered fresh terms by the Liverpool hierarchy.
But captain Van Dijk finds himself in a very different position. It has been suggested that the Dutchman has already been offered a new deal to stay at Anfield.
Van Dijk already banks around £220,000 per week on Merseyside but an agreement on an extended stay is still some way off. And while the defender could yet commit his future, the fresh information about a new deal offers fresh insight on Salah’s own situation.
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During the forward’s interview after the victory against Southampton, Van Dijk appeared in the background with a wry smile. And while his reaction appeared to be somewhat insignificant, there could be more than meets the eye.
It would not be beyond the realms of possibility that Salah had already learned of Van Dijk’s renewal offer before the win at Southampton. Indeed, that could potentially have forced Salah to speak out.
Of course, Van Dijk could have chosen to publicise the pair’s situations himself. But given the regularity in which the defender speaks out in his role as captain, a complaint from Salah himself might have had more impact when it comes to triggering the Anfield hierarchy into action regarding the forward's future.
It remains to be seen when talks between Liverpool chiefs and Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas Issa will get underway. But away from his telling look behind the camera, Van Dijk has also offered his view on the situation.
Mohamed Salah
Mohamed Salah has just six months remaining on his Liverpool deal
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And he has insisted that any speculation over his or his teammates’ futures will not affect performances on the pitch. He said: "As players we don't worry about any of that.
"You are playing games, and he (Salah) is still part of all of us, so we want to achieve success. And that's what he wants as well."
Van Dijk and Salah will certainly be aiming to prove that point over the remainder of the campaign as the Reds aim to add to their advantage at the top of the Premier League table. The Reds sit nine points clear at the top ahead of Wednesday’s fixtures.
Liverpool travel to Newcastle, with closest rivals Arsenal and Chelsea facing Manchester United and Southampton respectively. Salah will also certainly be aiming to extend his stunning form for Liverpool.
Salah already has 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions having scored in each of his last six Premier League outings. He has been linked with French giants Paris Saint-Germain over recent days.
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