Liverpool have no intention of parting with Virgil van Dijk this summer despite mounting speculation surrounding a potential departure. The Dutchman is scheduled to link up with Andoni Iraola's squad in late July, by which stage their pre-season tour of the United States will be in full swing.
Van Dijk's Instagram Post After World Cup Elimination
Van Dijk, who celebrates his 35th birthday on Wednesday, may well have had his fill of North America following the Netherlands' World Cup elimination. His latest Instagram post offers insight into his current mindset after their failure to progress beyond the last 32. Ronald Koeman's outfit were knocked out by Morocco, who prevailed in a penalty shootout. After a spell of social media silence, Van Dijk finally spoke to fans before switching focus back to club duties.
"As captain, all I ever wanted was to make this country proud," he wrote on Monday. "To see our World Cup end so early is heartbreaking because I know how much this team gave every single day. A lot has been said and that is for another day. Now is about accepting that we failed, and we take full responsibility for that." He added: "I'd like to thank our travelling fans and everyone back home who believed in us and stood by us until the end. We saw you, and we felt your support every step of the way."
Liverpool's Stance on Van Dijk's Future
Recent reports have indicated AC Milan and Fenerbahce are both keen on securing a deal for Van Dijk. It is well documented that the veteran is now into the final 12 months of his contract and Liverpool appear reluctant to offer their captain an extension. However, owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have repeatedly demonstrated a tendency to allow those over 30 to see out their deals rather than capitalise for immediate financial gain. Andy Robertson was the most recent example this summer, while Mohamed Salah was granted an exit despite having 12 months remaining on his contract.
Both Salah and Van Dijk penned two-year extensions to stay at Anfield in the summer of 2024, the same year Jurgen Klopp exited the club. It seems the Reds are determined for captain Van Dijk to fulfil his deal rather than depart this summer.
Impact of Early World Cup Exit
It may ultimately benefit Liverpool that the Netherlands' World Cup did not go as Van Dijk anticipated. Not only will the player return for pre-season considerably earlier, but they may discover their star possesses fresh determination to compensate for that disappointment. The same could be said for compatriots Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo as they also head back to Liverpool with a point to prove. None more so than Van Dijk, though, as he moves further into the latter stages of his career at Anfield.
