Image Credits: Imago Images
Virgil van Dijk has endured quite the turbulent few weeks off the pitch, finding himself caught in a war of words with television pundit Wayne Rooney.
The Liverpool captain has been repeatedly targeted by the former Manchester United legend over his perceived lack of leadership during the club’s difficult stretch this term.
While Rooney has since walked back some of his more inflammatory comments—admitting his suggestion that Van Dijk had “downed tools” after signing a new contract was unfair—he has nonetheless continued to prod at the Dutchman’s performances, claiming his standards have dropped compared to previous years.
However, Van Dijk now faces a far more significant issue than merely deflecting Rooney’s critiques from the studios.
The Liverpool captain, alongside the captains of all 19 other Premier League clubs, is scheduled to meet with the Professional Footballers’ Association next week ahead of a crucial vote on November 21., according to the Times.
The PFA meeting comes as English football stands on the brink of a potential upheaval.
Top-flight clubs will vote on introducing “top-to-bottom anchoring” (TBA), a controversial financial regulation that would cap any club’s spending at five times the prize money and broadcast revenue received by the bottom-placed side.
Based on current figures, this would effectively place a hard salary cap on spending across all 20 clubs, regardless of their individual revenues.
The union has made its opposition crystal clear, with PFA chief executive Maheta Molango warning of imminent legal action should the measure pass
Manchester City, Manchester United and Aston Villa are already understood to be opposed, raising questions over whether TBA will even secure sufficient support.
Van Dijk and the other captains will now play a big role in discussions between the league and its players.
The PFA views this meeting as an opportunity to persuade club leaders to resist what it describes as an artificial restriction on players’ earning potential.
Want to get the latest Liverpool news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.