Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has insisted that he is calm about his future at Anfield despite speculation he could leave the club for free at the end of the season.
The Reds were eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday night after losing 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain before losing 4-1 in the subsequent penalty shootout.
Boss Arne Slot has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign on Merseyside, but he could be set for more disappointment at the end of the season should the club fail agree fresh terms with captain Van Dijk, who will be able to leave for free at the end of 2024-25.
However, the centre-back told reporters ahead of his team’s clash against Newcastle United in the final of the EFL Cup on Sunday that there is no need to panic about the situation, and even hinted that negotiations could continue beyond the final game of the campaign in May, saying: “Listen, [possibly waiting until the season is over] is definitely the case, so we will see what happens.
“At the moment I can’t [see myself at another club] because there are still 10 games to go. I can’t think about what is going to happen after the summer.
“It’s not a one, two, three discussion and there we go. There are multiple factors and as long as I am calm to you guys (the media) then there is no need to panic, whatever may happen in the future. If I was worried you would see me playing a little bit worried and that is not the case.”
Van Dijk has been at the club since January 2018 and is arguably still one of the best defenders in world football despite being 33 years old.
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Is Van Dijk the most important player to renew?
Slot faces the prospect of losing Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah for free on top of Van Dijk, and the Reds would undoubtedly suffer should any of the three depart.
Alexander-Arnold possesses a unique skillset for a right-back given he his able to bypass opposition pressure and bring his team closer to the final third in a split-second thanks to his impressive passing ability.
The Englishman’s absence would likely make playing out from the back more difficult, while losing Salah could be catastrophic considering the Egyptian’s elite production in the forward line.
Salah has scored 27 goals and registered 17 assists in the Premier League this season, and has contributed to 44 of the Reds’ 69 goals.
It should be noted that Van Dijk also contributes to significantly to Liverpool’s attacks, with his immense passing range helping the team play through opposition defensive lines, and he can often be seen playing diagonal passes to players on the touchline.
The Dutch centre-back is also formidable without the ball, and there is an argument that no other defender is as well rounded as he is.
When Van Dijk was ruled out for the majority of the 2020-21 season, Liverpool fell away and failed to compete for the Premier League title, so perhaps the centre-back’s contract should be seen as the club’s number one priority.
