Virgil van Dijk may reportedly be open to joining the Saudi Pro League this summer, but Liverpool’s stance with regards to selling their captain is very clear.
As was always likely to be the case, the Dutchman’s future has come to the forefront following the conclusion of Euro 2024 with TEAMtalk claiming the defender has given the green light to The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia over a potential transfer.
The report also states that van Dijk’s entourage, met with the PIF to better understand the proposal ready for the 33-year-old who has entered the final 12 months of his Liverpool contract and has thrown his future at the club into doubt with comments made after Netherlands’ Euro 2024 exit earlier in the month.
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“I haven’t the slightest idea right now,” he said. “I will think carefully this summer about what I want at club level and as an international player. Then we’ll go for it again, but first recover from this.
“After a season like this, where all kinds of things have happened, it gets emotional at the end because you know it’s over.”
However, with the Merseyside outfit reportedly valuing van Dijk at around €55 million (£46.3m), it’s claimed the figure is currently considered too high by the Saudi negotiator who are ready to withdraw from talks if the price-tag doesn’t drop significantly.
Premier League Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool applauds the fans at the end of the Premier League match Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 19th May 2024 Photo by Craig Thomas/News Images Copyright: xCraigxThomas/NewsxImagesx
Liverpool’s stance on van Dijk
Though the threat of van Djik leaving on a free transfer is very real, new Liverpool sporting director, Richard Hughes – who alongside Michael Edwards and Julian Ward are also tasked with securing the futures of vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah – has dropped the clearest hint yet that the Reds’ skipper will not be sold this summer.
“We expect all three to be totally committed to Liverpool next season,” Hughes stated, thus indirectly ruling out a summer sale for van Dijk.
This stance, of course, will be music to the ears of new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot who can plan for the 2024-25 season in the knowledge that one of the best central defenders in the world.
Having said that, this could play into the Saudi negotiator’s hands as they are said to wait until January 2025 where they can approach van Dijk with a pre-contract agreement so he can move as a free agent at the end of the upcoming campaign.
