Virgil van Dijk has handed Liverpool a timely boost by revealing there has been “progress” in his contract talks, his clearest hint yet that he’s open to staying at Anfield beyond the summer.
The 33-year-old defender had earlier admitted he wasn’t sure about his future at Anfield. But speaking to The Athletic’s James Pearce after Liverpool’s 3-2 loss to Fulham on Sunday, Van Dijk gave fans something to smile about.
“There is progress, yeah,” the Dutch captain said when asked about his contract. “I don’t know [if I’ll stay], we’ll see. These are internal talks.”
He didn’t give too much away but made it clear he still feels the love for the club and the supporters.
“I love the club. I love the fans. They showed up for us again, and we wanted to reward them,” he said. “I just hope they show up strong again on Sunday [against West Ham] and make Anfield a fortress like always.”
Van Dijk’s future is one of several contract questions hanging over Liverpool. Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are also entering the final stretch of their current deals.
Despite the disappointment in west London, Liverpool remain top of the Premier League 11 points clear, even after their 26-game unbeaten run came to an end.
Former Manchester United star Paul Scholes didn’t hold back, criticising Van Dijk’s performance and calling it “arrogant” after the Fulham defeat.
Van Dijk, though, accepted responsibility.
“It was a bad day for all of us,” he admitted. There were mistakes that should’ve been avoided. It simply wasn’t good enough.”
Since arriving from Southampton for £75 million in 2018, Van Dijk has been a rock at the back, helping the club to Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and EFL Cup glory. He’s made over 300 appearances and scored 26 goals in a Liverpool shirt.
