Virgil van Dijk feels that Liverpool may be in for a pretty ‘big summer’ irrespective of the Premier League trophy on it’s way to Anfield.
Despite sitting thirteen points clear of second-place Arsenal and destined to claim English football’s ultimate prize for only the second time, Van Dijk insists that Liverpool can still improve substantially on Arne Slot’s debut season in charge.
As such, the worst thing FSG can do, in the captain’s opinion, is to keep the chequebook closed in the assumption that, just because Liverpool are so clear at the top this season, history is bound to repeat itself in 2025/26.
Anfield icon Jamie Carragher wants Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike – Bournemouth’s buccaneering left-back and Eintracht Frankfurt’s £70 million-rated striker – among six new faces through the door.
Though, as far as another one-time Liverpool stalwart is concerned, the best business they could possibly have done heading into the summer has already been completed before April turns to May.
Liverpool tie down both Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah
After Mo Salah ended the uncertainty surrounding his Liverpool future with a new two-year deal last week, Virgil van Dijk is here to stay at Anfield too.
To think, imagine how much either player would have cost to replace. The man destined to come top of the Premier League’s scoring charts, and a central defender who can still lay claim to being the best on planet earth.
Sammy Lee, a four-time First Division champion in the 1980s, can barely bring himself to imagine.
“You need to keep all your best players to win any competition,” Lee says, Trent Alexander-Arnold very much now the odd-one-out. “Obviously its sad that one of our major players [will leave] – Trent – but to get Mo and Virgil [signed up]…
“They’ve been massive for the football club, they really have. They have been massive in the resurgence of the football club, and I am so pleased [that both Salah and Van Dijk are staying].
“Fantastic. Now, concentrate on those we haven’t got.”
Sam Allardyce thinks Liverpool have saved themselves £200 million
Sam Allardyce, for whom Lee worked as an assistant coach for over 15 years, believes Liverpool would have struggled to get much change out of £200 million when signing a winger capable of replicating Salah’s output and a centre-half as well-rounded as Van Dijk.
Allardyce also credits Arne Slot for creating an environment in which some of Jurgen Klopp’s most trusted lieutenants have continued to thrive, barely missing a beat while making an effortless transition from one era to another.
“I think they’ve got Arne Slot to thank for that. He’s made these players feel comfortable so that they want to stay,” argues the former West Ham, Newcastle United and Everton manager.
“He’s earned his reputation, his credibility and he’s done that with the players more than anything else. That’s why they want to stay. They like whats happening.
“From a financial point of view, if [Salah and Van Dijk] leave and you have to replace them, you are talking maybe £200 million just for two.
“The best centre-back in Europe and best forward in Europe; If you can bring them to Liverpool, are going to cost you far more than new contracts are.
“So, irrespective of whether it’s £500,000 a week or not [in wages], it’s cheap compared to how much the alternative would be. It’s £100 million, and then four, five hundred thousand pounds a week on top of that.
“The two best signings Liverpool will make this year.”
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
