Premier League legend Jaap Stam has tipped compatriot Virgil van Dijk to extend his contract at Liverpool.
The Dutchman’s current deal expires on June 30, but he said last weekend that progress had been made in negotiations over a renewal, and it is widely expected that he will follow teammate Mohamed Salah in committing his future to the club.
Salah has signed a two-year extension at Anfield, and Van Dijk is set to do the same, tying him to the Reds until the summer of 2027. Stam, who won the Premier League in each of his three seasons at Manchester United, said that it will be good news for Liverpool if it manages to keep hold of Van Dijk.
“He’s been terrific for Liverpool, of course, in how he’s been playing,” he said to DAZN. “But going towards the end of your contract, you always, especially the age that he is, need to think about how your future needs to be and what you want if you want to make a new step or a different step or get a new challenge.
“So, I understand that it takes a bit longer for him to make a decision. But I think for the club, it would be very weird if you let him go because I still think he’s very important for the club.
“I would do everything in my power to keep him within the club because he’s outstanding; he’s still one of the best, maybe the best defender in the world at the moment. So, it would be strange to see him leave for himself. He knows what he’s got at Liverpool.
(Image: 2025 James Gill – Danehouse)
“He can still do well under the new manager as well and win a lot of trophies. I think he’s got the respect of everybody as well. So, I see him staying at the club to be honest.”
Despite his Manchester United links, Stam is pleased for Van Dijk and the rest of Liverpool’s Dutch contingent as the Reds close in on Premier League glory. “I think everybody in Holland is going to be very happy if Liverpool wins the title,” Stam said.
“For us, maybe for ex-United players, it’s a bit different. But we’re all very happy that Slot is doing well as a manager and especially for Virgil as well, because he’s been such a big name for us Dutch people as well.
“I think everybody’s very proud of him as well and what he’s been doing for the club, for his career as well, and how he built up his own career, being so successful. So, yeah, we as Dutch people can only be very proud of the Dutch players in the Liverpool squad and also for the manager.”
