Liverpool has made a new contract offer to their captain, Virgil van Dijk, but the 33-year-old Dutchman hasn’t accepted it yet, leaving his future up in the air. Just like key teammates Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk’s current deal runs out at the end of June, raising concerns about keeping all three stars.
This situation has been bubbling under the surface during Liverpool’s title chase with Arne Slot, but it’s now hitting a critical point. If they don’t reach an agreement in the next three weeks, Van Dijk, Salah, and Alexander-Arnold will be free to chat with foreign clubs about potential summer moves.
Liverpool really wants to keep their captain, who showed his worth with a solid performance in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Manchester City. However, the club’s initial offer seems to fall short of what Van Dijk is hoping for.
The center-back currently makes around £220,000 a week, which is quite a bit less than Salah’s record-breaking £350,000-a-week salary. It looks like the sticking point might be the length of the contract rather than the pay, as Liverpool is cautious about long-term deals for older players.
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Finding the right balance between financial sustainability and keeping their star players is a tricky challenge for Liverpool. They’re working within Premier League financial rules, which might limit their ability to keep all three players. Plus, Salah’s public frustrations about the slow progress have added pressure on Liverpool to move quickly.
Chief executive Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes are leading the negotiations behind the scenes. According to The Athletic, Van Dijk is the most likely to sign, but nothing is set in stone yet.
The deadlock has raised questions about who might be behind the recent leaks about Van Dijk’s contract offer. Did Liverpool share the news to calm worried fans? Or is someone from Van Dijk’s or Salah’s camp trying to gain an edge in negotiations?
Van Dijk’s knowing smile when he heard Salah’s recent comments about his own contract situation has sparked speculation about how these talks are intertwined.
As the clock ticks down to January, when foreign clubs can start formal talks with Van Dijk, Salah, and Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool fans are hoping for some progress behind closed doors to secure those key signatures before it’s too late.
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