Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been continuously linked with a move away from Anfield due to his contract situation
Virgil van Dijk's claim that he has "no idea" where his future lies has been branded as "absolute rubbish". Speculation over where the Liverpool captain will play his football next season has been mounting for several months with his contract still due to expire in the summer.
Recent reports have linked Van Dijk with a lucrative move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Hilal. If the 33-year-old went there, he would end up facing a host of former Reds team-mates such as Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane.
The Liverpool defender, who arrived at Anfield from Southampton for £75million in 2018, recently insisted he is still unsure about his future, adding that anyone who claims to know what's happening is "lying".
However, despite his assertions, former Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster believes Van Dijk's agent and representatives will be working hard behind the scenes to find him a potential new club, should an extension not be agreed with the Reds. Van Dijk's current contract is estimated to be worth more than £11m per year, but Foster suggested he could earn at least double that figure in Saudi Arabia.
"I love Virgil, but that is absolute rubbish," Foster said on his Fozcast podcast when discussing Van Dijk's latest comments. "There is not a footballer in the world that has ever existed that has no idea, unless you play for a League Two team where you're waiting on relegation or promotion. Unless you're in that position, you know exactly what's going on.
"His agent will be talking to clubs all over the place. He will be gently making sure everybody knows that he wants £20million a year, or it might be £50m a year. That's how it works."
Foster was then asked whether he thought a potential move to Spanish giants Real Madrid could be an option for Van Dijk instead of Saudi Arabia. He said: "Neither would surprise me and it will be really interesting to see, but what I do know is there will be so many people willing to take him because they're not paying a transfer fee for him."
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk has repeatedly been quizzed about his future
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Image:
TNT Sports)
Van Dijk was most recently questioned about his contract situation following Liverpool's exit from the Champions League after being knocked out on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain last week.
"I have no idea at the moment. Genuinely, I still have no idea," the Dutchman said. "It is not on hold. Nothing on hold. There are 10 games to go and that is my full focus. If there is news you guys will know it. I don't even know myself.
"Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes but that is about it. At the moment I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face."
Since then Liverpool lost the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle at Wembley, but a Premier League title still looks nailed on with Arsenal 12 points behind them, meaning Van Dijk – as well as potentially Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold – could still leave on a real high.
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