Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has confirmed there has been “progress” in negotiations over a new contract, offering hope to fans as his current deal approaches its final months.
Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that discussions with Liverpool over a contract extension are moving forward, though the Netherlands defender stopped short of saying an agreement is close.
The 33-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of the season, raising concerns about his future at Anfield. Fellow stars Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also yet to sign new contracts.
“There is progress, yeah,” Van Dijk told reporters after Liverpool’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham on Sunday. “I don’t know [if I’ll stay], we’ll see. These are internal discussions and we’ll see.”
The veteran centre-back was more optimistic than in March, when he admitted he had “no idea” about his long-term future.
“I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again,” he said. “We wanted to reward them. I want them to be there on Sunday again [against West Ham United] and make the stadium an amazing venue like always.”
Despite the setback at Craven Cottage—just their second league loss this season—Liverpool remain 11 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The defeat ended a 25-game unbeaten run in the league.
“It was a poor day at the office for all of us,” Van Dijk said. “There were individual moments that should have been dealt with better. It was not acceptable as a team.”
Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 for £75 million. Since then, he has made 323 appearances, scoring 26 goals. He played a crucial role in the club’s Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup successes under Jürgen Klopp.
Negotiations over Van Dijk’s future are expected to continue as Liverpool aim to retain the core of their squad ahead of a transitional summer.
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