Virgil van Dijk has been accused of being disingenuous when he recently said that he doesn’t know where his future lies beyond the end of the season.
The Liverpool captain’s current contract is due to expire on June 30, and he has been free to conduct pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs since January 1.
Speaking after the Reds exited the Champions League last week, Van Dijk said: “I have no idea [if I’ll be at Liverpool next season]. I still have no idea at the moment. Genuinely. I have no idea at the moment. It is not on hold. Nothing is on hold. There’s just… I keep saying the same thing. Listen, there are 10 games to go (this season) and that is my full focus.
“If there is news, you guys will know it. But I don’t even know myself. Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes but that is about it. At the moment I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face.”
However, Simon Jordan questioned how much truth there was behind Van Dijk’s comments, while also criticizing Liverpool for its approach to the situation. Van Dijk is one of three key players who are set to become free agents at the end of the campaign, with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold also coming to the end of their deals.
(Image: talkSPORT)
“I don’t know what Liverpool’s strategy is,” Jordan told talkSPORT. “Virgil van Dijk isn’t a role model for how to conduct negotiations after what happened with him leaving Southampton. It would be unfathomable to suggest nobody knows anything. I would think that Van Dijk is a key component that Liverpool needs to retain.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold, I think we all know what is going to happen there. The club has still maintained its great stance when players move on. For Van Dijk to suggest he is in the dark about everything is probably a stretch. It is a difficult conundrum because Liverpool will want to keep these players on terms that are fair for both parties.
“I would suggest it is disingenuous. He is in control of his destiny. If all three players have ran their contracts down, it is because they wanted to.“
