Arne Slot spoke about Virgil van Dijk when previewing the Carabao Cup final
Arne Slot offered an his verdict on Virgil van Dijk
Arne Slot insists the contract drama around Virgil van Dijk and Co is not impacting his planning for next season.
But the Liverpool boss also remains in the dark about their futures. Van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
Dutch defender Van Dijk said again this week that he has no update on his own contract talks as the saga rumbles on with just over two months of the season to go. Slot said: “I don’t know what’s happening next season as well in terms of results but that is not what you mean.
“The only thing I know is that I want Virgil to be here next season.”
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Arne Slot confirms Trent Alexander-Arnold is OUT of Carabao Cup final vs Newcastle](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-liverpool-alexander-arnold-injury-34859822)
When asked if it impacts next season’s planning, Slot added: “Interesting way of asking things, no it doesn’t.”
Liverpool face Newcastle on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley as Slot looks to secure his first trophy as Reds boss. The Premier League title is also on the way in May but they will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for Sunday’s final.
Jarell Quansah could step in at right-back after he came on to replace Alexander-Arnold against PSG on Tuesday. The defender has been called up by Thomas Tuchel for his first England squad this month.
Virgil van Dijk during a training session
Virgil van Dijk is yet to reach an agreement on a new deal
Slot believes hooking Quansah at half time of his first game back in August against Ipswich has helped the defender improve. He said: “If being substituted at half-time is a setback then almost every player has more than a few setbacks during his career.
"It was more that people were a bit like 'Oooh' about what I said after the game in that they were not used to a manager or me being so clear about what I saw and what I did. In the end that probably went to a situation where he got criticised more than was normal for a player who was taken off at half-time.
“It is so good to see he managed his way back into it. Now, already before the winter break, he already had a few good moments as well and every time we now need him he does really well.
Jarell Quansah could fill in at right back for Sunday's Carabao Cup final vs Neewcastle
“Mentality-wise it might have been a big moment for him, that Ipswich game, because now he has experienced that people were not only positive about him like last season – although he made one or two mistakes then as well – he also knows now he can fight his way back if people are, all of a sudden, not positive any more.
“That is something every player should experience at the start of his career because a football career is never always going up it is going a bit like this [waves his hand up and down] and now he knows he can fight back after a situation he experienced after the Ipswich game.”
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