Liverpool supervisor Arne Slot has reiterated his agency need to maintain Virgil van Dijk on the membership amid rising uncertainty surrounding the centre-back’s future.
Van Dijk’s present contract expires in June. The towering defender is adamant that no determination about his future has been made, however studies of outdoor curiosity within the 33-year-old are gathering tempo because the conclusion of his deal hurtles over the horizon.
Slot was requested about the way forward for his captain after he was pictured in dialogue with Paris Saint-Germain proprietor Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos following his aspect’s Champions League elimination in opposition to the French giants this week.
“I do not know what is going on subsequent season as nicely,” Slot shrugged. “The one factor I do know is that I would like Virgil to be right here subsequent season. All the remaining, these talks about contracts, that isn’t what I do right here.”
The Dutch coach joined a restructured Liverpool hierarchy in the summertime. Former switch specialist Michael Edwards returned to the membership as its first chief govt of soccer in March 2024 earlier than the appointment of Richard Hughes as sporting director in June. Each members of higher administration will likely be on the forefront of discussions with Van Dijk over a brand new deal whereas Slot focuses on the prevailing enjoying squad.
Apart from Van Dijk, Edwards and Hughes are additionally locked in negotiations with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, who’re tied to their very own expiring offers.
Alexander-Arnold is comfortably the youngest of the trio at 26 and can also be tipped to be the most probably to depart, with Actual Madrid all however assured of his imminent arrival. The case of Salah is especially sophisticated.
The 32-year-old ought to theoretically have already loved his peak however is at the moment on the right track to report the very best marketing campaign of his profession. The freshly topped Premier League Participant of the Month has publicly expressed his frustration with the membership’s stagnated contract negotiations and has attracted curiosity from a glut of rival groups. Very similar to Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, Slot can also be eager on holding Salah. “Everyone needs him, together with us,” the previous Feyenoord boss admitted in January. “We in fact need him to increase as nicely. That’s clear.”
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