As January becomes February, Liverpool are still no closer to sorting their three enormous contract situations.
Fans had perhaps expected the Reds to have tied things up on this front before the new season began.
But six months on from Liverpool’s campaign opener against Ipswich Town, and Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold are still slated to be free agents in June.
What has made things all the more baffling, is that all three have maintained their levels throughout the season so far.
While Salah’s goal scoring has created most of the headlines, though, Van Dijk has been equally as impressive.
The Dutchman has not yet missed a minute of Premier League football, underlining his importance to the Liverpool squad. And as his contract enters its final five months, the feeling inside Anfield on whether Van Dijk will stay or not has been revealed.
Virgil van Dijk still expected to stay at Liverpool
In terms of the three contract issues, there has always appeared to be the most confidence that Van Dijk will still be a Liverpool player next season.
And according to The Times, despite the unexplained delay in his signing, that remains the case.
They claim that there is an ‘expectation around Liverpool’ that Van Dijk will stay beyond the end of his current agreeement.
Furthermore, the Reds are said to believe that the 33-year-old can maintain his high standards for at least ‘a couple more years.’
For his part, it is claimed that Van Dijk has made ‘no secret’ of his wish to stay at Liverpool.
The centre-back is said to hold a steely determination to prove to the club that he is still at the peak of his powers despite approaching his 34th birthday.
When will Van Dijk sign his new contract?
There has been a theory doing the rounds that Van Dijk has actually signed his new contract already.
In this explanation, the reason the No.4’s extension hasn’t yet been announced is because Liverpool are still waiting for Alexander-Arnold and Salah to do the same and do not want to put unnecessary pressure on either.
However journalist James Pearce has dismissed this Van Dijk theory, with the truth seemingly being that he simply has not yet reached an agreement with Liverpool.
With spring now on the way, though, something has got to give one way or another.
It would feel like a shock if Van Dijk were to depart Anfield in just a few months, but as things stand, until he does put pen to paper, that remains a possibility.
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