Virgil van Dijk has made a passionate plea for Liverpool to retain Alisson, describing the Brazilian shot-stopper as the finest goalkeeper on the planet and warning that his departure would represent a significant setback for the club.
Contract Uncertainty Looms
Liverpool activated a one-year contract extension for the 33-year-old last month, yet manager Arne Slot recently declined to confirm whether Alisson would remain at Anfield beyond the current campaign. This has sparked speculation about his future, with Italian giants Juventus reportedly monitoring the situation closely. The summer transfer window may present Liverpool with their final opportunity to command a transfer fee for the former Roma star, especially given that they already possess a potential successor in backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Van Dijk's Verdict
Van Dijk, who has shared the dressing room with Alisson since 2018, did not mince words when discussing the importance of his teammate. “It would definitely be a big blow and a miss, but I don’t think it’s a good idea to think ahead about what could or could not happen,” the Dutch defender stated. “He’s very important for me as one of the leaders in the team, and I think he is very important on the pitch because I think he is one of the best – in my opinion the best – goalkeeper in the world.”
The centre-back also highlighted Alisson’s current focus on recovering from injury to aid Liverpool in their final four matches of the season. “He’s trying to be back as soon as possible to help us for the last four games, and that’s our main focus. Whatever happens after that is not something you should ask me. Would I love him to stay? Of course, there’s no doubt about that.”
Jones Also in Focus
Van Dijk also expressed his desire for Liverpool to secure the future of midfielder Curtis Jones, who attracted interest from Inter Milan in January and will enter the final year of his contract this summer. “Of course,” Van Dijk said when asked if he wanted Jones to stay. “I don’t know what’s going to happen because I’m not the boss.”
