Since returning from his ACL injury, Virgil Van Dijk has not been as excellent as before. However, although his current form is only about 80% of his peak, the Dutch star is still the world's top midfielder.
Van Dijk is an irreplaceable pillar for The Kop, so of course the team and fans want to keep him. Not only that, if they say goodbye to Van Dijk after this season, the Anfield team will not be able to find a worthy replacement.
One of the reasons why Van Dijk's extension negotiations with Liverpool were delayed was the disturbance at the top. Jurgen Klopp left and left the captain's chair to Arne Slot. Meanwhile, Sports Director Richard Hughes is just doing his duty. These are two characters who have an almost direct decisive say in Van Dijk's future, but both are newcomers.
Compared to Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who are also in the final year of their contracts, Virgil van Dijk's case is the easiest to handle, but at this point it is still not done. We cannot rule out the possibility that one of these three pillars or, worst of all, all three will leave Anfield in the near future.
Why do you say Van Dijk's case is easier to handle? Unlike the two teammates above, the 33-year-old midfielder, every time asked about his future, said "no change". Van Dijk wants to continue to stick around to seek more titles with Liverpool. When their players have shown their love for such a big team, the leadership should also make early moves to avoid everything that was rosy from turning gray.
Van Dijk is therefore less likely to be looked at by other teams, unlike Salah and Alexander-Arnold. Therefore, if a reasonable offer is made, Liverpool can continue to accompany this class midfielder. Even if the offer is made in January 2025, things can still come to the desired result.
Liverpool once broke the rule with Van Dijk when the midfielder became the first player to receive a 3-year extension when he was over 30 years old. The Merseyside team may be calculating by next summer, when Van Dijk is 34 years old, what this star's value on and off the field will be. However, if he re-signs, Van Dijk may only receive a 1-year contract.
The owners of Fenway Sports Group will not change their view of prioritizing the rejuvenation of the club, thereby helping Liverpool become financially sustainable. They always believe that it is never appropriate to spend a large amount of money on a player who has moved to the other side of his career.
Professionally, Van Dijk still shows that he can meet the requirements, at least until the end of this season. The proof is The Kop's latest victory over Ipswich Town on the opening day of the Premier League . The Dutch midfielder still controls a very solid defense. Besides, he is also the one who launched some pretty good attacks for the home team.
None of the other central defenders in the current Liverpool squad have all the qualities like Van Dijk. There are people who are tall but slow and read the situation poorly. People with high speed often make mistakes in position and their hand-to-hand combat ability is not guaranteed. It's been a long time since a centre-back like Van Dijk has appeared with all the skills to become an iron shield in front of the defense.
In the immediate future, when Arne Slot has not yet had time to stabilize the squad, he is forced to bet on Van Dijk in the first few months. When the winter transfer window opens, Slot and Hughes will take the next steps to match the performance and role of the 33-year-old star. Liverpool should also find someone soon so that in case Van Dijk leaves in the summer of 2025, they do not fall into a gap.
