Arne Slot pushes for Virgil van Dijk resolution as Liverpool skipper sets out demands

Virgil van Dijk has a new backer in his contract talks with Liverpool - new Kop boss Arne Slot.

Slot has been hugely impressed with his captain both on and off the pitch since he arrived at Anfield in the summer to take over from Jurgen Klopp. But Van Dijk will become a free agent in the summer and will be free to negotiate with overseas clubs from January.

Liverpool have always been cautious about handing players extended deals once they have reached the age of 30 - and Van Dijk will be 34 by the time next season kicks off.

Slot, who has always been a big admirer of his fellow Dutchman, has now realised that his skipper still appears to be at the peak of his game despite being asked to play a higher line than he did in his final seasons under Klopp.

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Former PEC Zwolle forward Anco Jansen, who is a big personal friend of Slot’s, has revealed how the Liverpool boss has become a fully paid-up member of the Van Dijk fan club in his early months on Merseyside.

Jansen said: “Last week I spoke to Slot really extensively. He had a few days off and was over (in Holland). We went to play padel - but we also spoke about Van Dijk and Arne told me that Virgil is a really top-class player.

“Slot has been watching Van Dijk every day at Liverpool and he literally said to me ‘this boy is not of normal standards on the ball. He is unbelievable.’ Slot started to see what Virgil is capable of in the positional play in small spaces.

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"In every training session he is incredibly good. That’s what he told me. For the Netherlands at the European Championships, he looked a little indecisive. He ran backwards more often than forwards. He didn't really make a good impression. If you see him now for Liverpool's new season that is not the case.”

Van Dijk admitted last week that there has been no breakthrough in talks aimed at extending his stay beyond 2025. The Dutchman is believed to be looking for a two-year deal but wanted to see how Slot managed the team following the departure of Klopp in the summer.

He said: “At both teams [Liverpool and the Netherlands] I am still Virgil van Dijk, the big leader. And I certainly want to remain that for the next two years. I am human, I have emotions too. You start thinking all kinds of things.

“I also understand that it came across unclear on how I stood in all this, because after the match I was so disappointed and full of emotion. It perhaps came across as if it had been my last international match. I did have doubts that night and I did hint at that."

Liverpool also have Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold out of contract next year - and losing any of their star trio for nothing would be a devastating blow.

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