Liverpool have put contract talks with Reds hero ‘on the backburner’ amid ‘concrete interest’ in replacement

Liverpool will not open contract talks with club captain Virgil van Dijk until days before he can negotiate a pre-contract with a foreign club, according to reports.

Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75m – a world record fee for a defender – in January 2018.

He made an instant impact at Anfield, helping to inspire a run to the Champions League final in his first six months at the club.

After losing the final to Real Madrid – courtesy of a Loris Karius disaster class – The Reds would return to the Champions League final a year later, beating Premier League rivals Tottenham 2-0.

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Club captain following Jordan Henderson’s controversial move to Saudi Arabia last summer, Van Dijk had one of Liverpool’s best individual seasons in 2023/24 as they lifted the Carabao Cup in February.

There were doubts over Van Dijk’s abilities last season after some shocking displays on the back of an ACL injury, but he’s returned to the level we all know he can play at in the last quarter.

His influence should make contract negotiations a massive priority for Liverpool as his current deal expires in 2025, however that does not appear to be the case.

He is not the only Reds star whose situation is precarious, as Real Madrid-linked right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold will also be out of contract next year.

Despite Van Dijk’s influence at the club, new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot is taking a risk by not prioritizing a new contract for his captain.

According to Football Insider, Slot “want to keep” Van Dijk “with a new contract”, but in a “surprise twist”, “talks have been put on hold”.

The current ‘priority’ at Anfield is this summer’s transfer business. The report states:

“Club chiefs will be eyeing a renewal for the centre-back, but talks are not believed to take place until the end of 2024, with transfer business currently taking priority following Slott’s arrival at Anfield.”

It is believed that “talks will be put on the market, potentially for six months”, meaning the Reds may not start talks until days before the January transfer window opens, when Van Dijk will be allowed to negotiate a pre-contract with a foreigner. club.

Liverpool are understandably planning their future and looking to sign a long-term replacement for the Dutchman – who turns 34 next July.

The same report claims there is “concrete interest” in Sporting centre-back Goncalo Inacio.

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