Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk delivers fresh update as triple contract saga continues | OneFootball

Along with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah, influential Reds captain has yet to agree extension to expiring deal

Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he is not expecting any new developments soon regarding his ongoing Liverpool contract saga, but remains “calm” over the situation.

Along with fellow key Reds stars Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, captain Van Dijk will see his current Anfield deal expire at the end of the season and so far discussions over a potential extension have yet to yield any breakthrough.

All three players are now free to talk to overseas clubs about a possible free transfer and sign pre-contract agreements for the summer, with Real Madrid in hot pursuit of England right-back Alexander-Arnold having been initially keen to sign him for nothing but also now having seen approaches for a cut-price January deal firmly rebuffed by Liverpool.

Slow progress: Liverpool have yet to agree contract extensions with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk

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All the focus on Alexander-Arnold and Salah of late means there has not been quite as much discussion on the future of Van Dijk, who was quizzed about his own contract talks following Sunday’s eventful 2-2 draw with fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield that saw Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders miss the chance to go eight points clear at the summit.

“Nothing,” he said when asked by Sky Sports if there was anything new on the contract front.

Pushed on if he was expecting any update soon, Van Dijk replied: “I don’t think so, but I am calm about it, like I said months ago.

Liverpool fans made their feelings clear on the ongoing contract sagas of Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk at Anfield on Sunday, with a banner directed at owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) that read: “FSG Give Mo & Co their dough.”

Reds boss Slot has remained tight-lipped on the situation but asked what made Van Dijk such a good player before the visit of United, he said: “I have a long list [for what makes him special]. Game intelligence, big, strong, fast, I was impressed by his possession and that was from first session, I was like 'wow'.

“He can delay his choice, play the passes through the lines and he is a complete player. One of the best players in the world in his position.

"Of course, even for Virgil we would like to see improvements. I will tell Virgil this. He is also the one that leads the team from start to finish. I hear one player and that is Virgil.

“That is the standard at this club. They have to keep at this level and that is what they have done, Mo and Virgil, for eight years now.”