Liverpool discover themselves at a crossroads with Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The clock is ticking amid ongoing contract conversations with the trio – the Reds have solely 79 days earlier than their expiring stars can open discussions over signing a pre-contract settlement on January 1.
Happily for Richard Hughes and his recruitment crew, the membership’s No.4 has already signalled his need to remain put at Anfield.
So, it simply stays to be seen what lengths Liverpool will go to to make sure their captain places pen to paper on recent phrases.
Virgil van Dijk needs to be given new Liverpool contract
One can perceive precisely why the membership could also be discovering it tough to safe a breakthrough in talks with Mo Salah’s (32) entourage.
Nevertheless, even with Van Dijk set to show 34 on the finish of his present contract, it appears much less advanced to argue a case for longevity.
Ian Doyle’s use of Manchester United’s Jonny Evans (36) as a working example may elevate a number of eyebrows, but it surely’s an arguably goal level to boost.
“The factor you’ve obtained to keep in mind with Van Dijk is that he performs within the one outfield place the place you possibly can cling on for a bit longer,” the Echo’s chief Liverpool reporter spoke on the Blood Pink podcast.
“You have a look at Jonny Evans at United the place, as a lot as we chortle at United…”
Paul Gorst got here in with a good interjection: “He’s been Ten Hag’s greatest signing.”
“Precisely! Precisely. As a result of he brings expertise and it’s the one place the place you should use that have since you’ve obtained many of the crew in entrance of you. Particularly with Van Dijk being the captain as effectively,” Doyle continued.
If we are able to settle for that Jonny Evans has been Erik ten Hag’s ‘greatest signing’, why can’t we additionally settle for that one of many globe’s main centre-halves is able to taking part in on the highest stage past 2025?
Assuming that Richard Hughes and Arne Slot agree, signing Virgil van Dijk on a brand new contract needs to be thought-about a no brainer.
Liverpool will kick themselves if the Dutch worldwide goes on to get pleasure from his remaining golden years at one other elite European outfit.