Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that Liverpool has officially begun contract talks with his representatives, with the captain reaffirming his full commitment to the club. This marks the first public acknowledgment from the Reds skipper that negotiations are underway between his agent and the club, and the defender is optimistic about reaching an agreement before his current contract expires at the end of the season.
Like his teammates Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk is eligible to discuss pre-contract agreements with clubs outside of England starting January 1. However, the 33-year-old insists that his "very full focus" remains solely on Liverpool, where he has made 280 appearances since his record £75 million transfer from Southampton in early 2018.
The center-back is believed to be one of the highest earners in the Reds' squad, second only to Salah, which has raised questions about how willing the club's decision-makers would be to offer improved terms to a player who will turn 34 before the next season begins. Although there were tentative links to a summer move to the Saudi Pro League, Liverpool did not receive any offers from the Middle East, and discussions are now in progress regarding a contract that would extend Van Dijk's stay at Anfield beyond the current campaign.
"I can confirm that discussions are ongoing, but I don’t know what will happen in the future," Van Dijk said following Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield. "My full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win the upcoming games and nothing else.
"I have no idea what the future holds at the moment. I can only say that discussions have started, and we will see where it goes. I feel great, both physically and mentally, and I’m enjoying my time here.
"What the future brings is uncertain, but as I mentioned, talks are ongoing with the right people, and when it’s time to make a decision, I’m sure you (the media) will be the first to know. For now, my complete commitment and focus are on Liverpool and achieving success this season. We will see what happens."