Sports
Van Dijk ‘meets’ with Saudi club to give Liverpool another transfer headache
Virgil van Dijk has just one year left to run on his Liverpool contract, and the Dutchman has been sounded out by a suitor from the Saudi Pro League ahead of the transfer window
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been offered a contract which would make him the highest-paid defender in the world by Al-Nassr, it has been claimed.
The Reds are set to usher in a new era under Arne Slot next season and the Dutchman’s arrival has coincided with speculation over the future of Van Dijk, with the 32-year-old defender set to enter the final year of his contract. Although Van Dijk has established himself as a key figure at Anfield since joining from Celtic in 2018, he revealed there have been no talks over a new deal last month.
Less than 12 months after Liverpool rebuffed interest in Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabia, it has now emerged that Van Dijk has suitors in the Saudi Pro League – and his representatives have already met with the general director of Al-Nassr.
As first revealed by Spanish outlet Marca, the meeting occurred on Tuesday night. It’s claimed that Al-Nassr have now put a lucrative contract proposal on the table, with Van Dijk set to become the highest-paid defender in the world if he agrees to the switch.
Al-Nassr are desperate to close on the gap on their domestic rivals, Al-Hilal, and are set to invest heavily in a bid to improve a squad which already boasts the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte. They are also in talks to sign former Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who is currently on the books at Juventus.
Despite splashing the cash last summer, Al-Nassr’s star-studded squad finished second in the Saudi Pro League last term. Furthermore, Ronaldo and co accumulated 14 points less than Al-Hilal, who romped to the title after going the entire domestic season unbeaten.
Changes are expected at Anfield this summer following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, who spent nine years at the helm. Slot, fresh from winning the Dutch Cup with Feyenoord, has already started work in his new role and will welcome some of his players back for pre-season training at the start of next month.
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While Liverpool’s new head coach is expected to stamp his own mark on the team, previous reports have indicated that the club are keen to retain Van Dijk’s services. And while he admitted last month that talks over an extension are yet to take place, he hinted he was keen to stay at Anfield.
The Liverpool captain previously told reporters: “There is nothing for me to discuss because there is no news. I think the club is very much busy with who is going to be the new manager and that is the main focus. I am very happy here, I love the club and you can see that as well. It’s a big part of my life already.
“The focus is now on the last two games and then the club will focus on who the new manager is. There will be a big transition and I am part of that. There will be a lot of changes happening and, I wouldn’t say scary is the right word, but it is quite interesting and exciting what will happen now.”
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