Liverpool make Virgil van Dijk transfer stance clear | OneFootball

Liverpool have shut down speculation linking their captain Virgil van Dijk with a summer exit. 

According to The Athletic’s James Pearce, Van Dijk is going nowhere as new head coach Andoni Iraola is counting on him for the upcoming season. 

Rumours claimed the Reds could be open to offers for the 34-year-old, who has just a year left on his current contract at Anfield. 

But the club have made it clear they have no intention of parting with their experienced centre-back. 

Liverpool’s defensive options have already been weakened by the departure of Ibrahima Konate, who has now joined Real Madrid.  

The Frenchman was expected to sign a new contract, but negotiations collapsed and he ended up leaving as a free agent. 

Joe Gomez also faces an uncertain future with just a year remaining on his current deal. 

Allowing Van Dijk to leave would leave the club needing significant defensive reinforcements before the summer transfer window closes. 

Despite his age, the Netherlands international was a key member of the first-team last season, amassing 54 appearances across all competitions. 

Van Dijk joined Liverpool in January 2018 and has remained a crucial part of the team since. 

He has made 374 appearances across all competitions, helping the Reds win two Premier League titles and a Champions League.   

At 34, the defender is far from the force he was before, but the club are adamant on keeping him for one more season. 

Stats from Transfermarkt