Ally McCoist has hinted that Virgil van Dijk may have already agreed a new contract with Liverpool, which has yet to be announced.
The news comes after the club confirmed that Mohamed Salah has signed a two-year extension until 2027, after lengthy negotiations with sporting director Richard Hughes and his agent Ramy Abbas Issa.
Van Dijk is also in talks with the club regarding a new deal, with progress being made, according to the player himself.
Discussing Salah’s new deal on TNT Sports’ Premier League coverage, McCoist expressed his enthusiasm for the announcement, saying: “From our point of view it’s great news for Liverpool fans they wake up Friday morning with the news he’s signed another two years.
“I would imagine they might get more good news in the coming days as well. But first and foremost it’s brilliant news for everybody as he is one of the best.”
McCoist also stated that he expects an announcement about Van Dijk’s contract in the near future, adding: “I’m very hopeful. Like Joe [Cole] said, I want to watch the best players play in the best league, of that there’s no doubt.”
“This is the best league in the world bar none and for that we have to have the best payers. I would expect, from rumblings we’ve heard, that Van Dijk will sign for two years in the next few days as well. He might have already done it, and they might be leaking it out at different times.”
Reports this week also suggested Van Dijk had agreed a new contract and an announcement was imminent. However, Arne Slot played down the prospect as he faced the media ahead of Sunday’s game with West Ham.
Learn more
“I think you know the answer. The boring answer, as always. We talk about contracts if they are signed,” Slot said. “In the situation with Mo, we are talking about it. As long as they are not signed, we don’t talk about it.”
Meanwhile, Van Dijk has urged his teammates to put in a performance at Anfield after last weekend’s defeat to Fulham. He said: “I have been saying for a long time now that there is still a big job to be done.
“Everyone on the outside will talk, but that’s not something we should ever be concerned by. We know exactly what is required over the coming weeks, and we know the standards and the mentality needed if we are to achieve our goals.
“It is on all of us, then, to make sure that we are at the right level from first whistle to last and I hope, also, that we are able to call upon a big atmosphere inside the stadium once more.”
