Liverpool are facing the very real prospect of losing one of the best defenders of all time next year.
The Reds are currently trying to navigate the ending of a transfer window in which they have failed to address the weaknesses in their squad.
In the meantime, three important contracts are starting to wind down rapidly. Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk could all leave Liverpool for nothing in 2025.
While there is said to have been bemusement within the football industry over Liverpool allowing Salah especially to run down his contract, Van Dijk’s situation is equally concerning.
The captain has been one of the key pillars of the Reds’ recent success and one of the greatest centre-backs in the club’s history. Whatever his future holds, Virgil’s name is rightfully now being mentioned alongside some all-time greats.
William Saliba picks his favourite centre-back
Van Dijk is not new to debates over where he stands in the pantheon of the greatest defenders in history.
It was only this weekend that Jaap Stam declared Van Dijk to be better than Rio Ferdinand after all. Stam also put a fair few other legendary defenders below the Liverpool captain.
One of the more modern names that Van Dijk is often compared against is Arsenal’s William Saliba.
Saliba has been excellent for the Gunners over the past two years and is rightly seen as one of the best centre-backs around right now.
But Saliba loves Van Dijk and despite some wanting to declare the Frenchman as the current king of defenders, Saliba himself knows Van Dijk is levels ahead of him still.
READ MORE: Liverpool think there are two centre-backs who could be signed to replace Virgil van Dijk next year
Now, the 23-year-old has been asked by Mail Sport to pick between some legendary Premier League defenders for who comes out on top.
It’s Ferdinand who is leading the way by the time Van Dijk crops up. But the former Man United man is no match for Virgil.
Neither are Jamie Carragher, Tony Adams, John Terry, Vincent Kompany, Sol Campbell or Nemanja Vidic. Saliba picks Liverpool’s No.4 over all of them.
Asked whether there is anyone better than Van Dijk, though, Saliba does concede that he rates Real Madrid icon Sergio Ramos above the Dutchman.
Saliba shows why Liverpool must renew Van Dijk
In case Liverpool needed any reminding, Saliba has just shown exactly why they absolutely have to renew Van Dijk’s contract as soon as possible.
The Netherlands captain has the respect of his peers for a reason. He is quite simply one of the best to ever do it.
Although FSG often don’t like to renew contracts for players over 30 – and at 33, Virgil is way past that landmark – an exception has to be made.
Van Dijk is a generational player. It will be years and years before Liverpool have anyone who falls into the same bracket as a defender.
If they give that up to save a bit of money this summer, then fans have every right to be upset. Let’s get it done, Liverpool.
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