Image for Liverpool “want to” seal contract extension for “incredible” hero despite shock exit rumour
Image for Liverpool “want to” seal contract extension for “incredible” hero despite shock exit rumour
Liverpool fans will be hoping Virgil van Dijk signs a new contract at Anfield before the end of this season, and a promising claim has emerged in that respect.
The Dutchman won his 100th cap for the Netherlands on Sunday night in their 2-1 win over Serbia, with manager Xavi heaping praise on the Reds captain:
“It’s an emotional day for him too. I’m so happy for him. And I’m glad I can work with him. He is a true leader. Virgil gets 100 caps. Such a thing is an incredible achievement. We will put him in the spotlight after the game. Then come the congratulations. Virgil is an absolute leader. I appreciate him very much.”
Van Dijk is out of contract at Liverpool next summer, which is a concern, given his performances so far this season and his continued top-level form, and the fact that Real Madrid have been mentioned as an option for him.
But speaking to Football Insider, journalist Pete O’Rourke said a contract extension will be likely if he continues to play like he is as the campaign goes on:
“A lot depends on what happens with Van Dijk’s contract situation. He still has a role to play for Liverpool. He’s still playing every week and he is the club captain as well, so I think Van Dijk is probably the master of his own destiny here.
“If he continues to perform well for Liverpool there’s every chance that he could get a new deal and they could look to keep him at the club. There is still a long way to go on this one. I think if he continues to perform at a high level, then Liverpool will want to sit down and discuss his plans going forward.
“But as I said, he’s the master of his own destiny, and the fact that he will be a free agent in the summer if there’s no new deal on the tail from Liverpool means he can probably have his pick of where he wants to continue his career.”
Liverpool HAVE to offer Virgil van Dijk a new deal?
Van Dijk is still largely unmatched in the world game, with Andoni Iraola unlikely to want anyone else at the back if it were the Champions League final tomorrow.
He may now be 35, and perhaps not at the all-time great level he was at five or six years ago, but he is still arguably the first name on the Reds’ team sheet, and Jamie Carragher recently discussed his legendary status:
“I’m talking like Stevie [Steven Gerrard], Kenny Dalglish, [Graeme] Souness, Alan Hansen, John Barnes, Mo Salah, the top sort of seven or eight players. Without a doubt he is right in the middle of that. And he’s not at the bottom of the list, I can assure you. He will go down as one of the greatest players ever to play for Liverpool – not one of the greatest centre-backs, one of the greatest players.”
Frankly, offering Van Dijk a new contract is a no-brainer for Liverpool, and he is still hopefully happy at Anfield, wanting to extend his stay for another few years.
Eventually, the time will come when he doesn’t look like the same player and an exit makes sense, but that time isn’t now.