Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool - Anfield Stadium
Liverpool face the end of a golden era as Van Dijk considers his Anfield exit
Liverpool find themselves at a difficult turning point this summer. Captain Virgil van Dijk is now seriously considering whether to follow Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson through the Anfield exit door. Turkish outlet FotoMac was first to report on the situation, and the move makes sense when you look at Liverpool’s recent push to overhaul their backline.
The club signed Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes back in January, are keeping tabs on Giovanni Leoni, and are pushing to get Ibrahima Konaté’s new contract over the line. They are also scouting Bournemouth’s Marcos Senesi as a potential long-term solution for the defence.
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Meanwhile, Galatasaray see Van Dijk as a marquee signing and plan to have club president Dursun Ozbek lead the charm offensive personally. Although Van Dijk signed an extension last April that runs until 2027, the word behind the scenes is that he’s unlikely to renew again. This effectively turns the 2026/27 season into a long goodbye rather than a new beginning.
His stats this year are still top-tier, as he leads the league in aerial duels won at 74.3%, has chipped in with four goals, and averaged a 7.23 FotMob rating across 35 starts. But turning 35 this summer, his recovery pace is starting to get tested, and Liverpool shipped 47 league goals this season, even with him in the side. With Salah and Robertson gone and Alisson Becker also linked with a move, Liverpool are seeing the total breakup of the core that won it all.
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Do Liverpool actually benefit from accelerating Van Dijk’s departure this summer?
To be honest, forcing this move a year early feels like a massive gamble. Van Dijk is still one of the best in the world at reading the game, and Arne Slot’s high line relies heavily on the kind of aerial dominance and positioning he makes look easy. Jacquet and Leoni have plenty of potential, but you can’t expect them to step in and handle the captaincy, the leadership, and the organisation of the entire defence all at once. Liverpool need some stability after such a chaotic season. Letting Van Dijk walk in 2026 instead of 2027 might save a bit on the wage bill, but it robs the dressing room of its most senior defensive voice right when the squad is at its most vulnerable.
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