The scheduled departure of Jurgen Klopp and the feedback that adopted from Virgil van Dijk have solid some severe doubt over the Dutchman’s long-term future at Liverpool.
Within the first sport after Klopp’s introduced he’ll go away on the finish of the season, Van Dijk spoke to the press and, naturally, was requested if the departure impacts his will to stick with Liverpool. His response was open-ended sufficient to make individuals suppose {that a} summer season transfer is much from inconceivable.
“That’s an enormous query. Effectively, I do not know,” the Dutchman replied. His contract, like another key gamers, will likely be up in June 2025. This reality was put to him and he added additional gasoline to the flames by saying: “That’s appropriate – good maths! Hear, I do not know.
“The membership can have an enormous job on their fingers. That’s well-known. To exchange the supervisor and change not solely the supervisor, the workers is leaving, and there are such a lot of issues that can change. So the membership has an enormous job on its fingers and I’m very curious which route that can go in. However when that will likely be introduced we are going to see our state of affairs. I can not say a lot about it.”
These feedback don’t imply he’s leaving imminently and the defender and Klopp refuted the perceived which means, however it’s greater than sufficient to spark hypothesis over the place he might go. Listed below are some golf equipment that may absolutely be within the body had been Van Dijk out there in the summertime.
It was reported by Defensa Central quickly after Van Dijk’s future was thrown into doubt that Actual Madrid could be greater than keen to offer a touchdown spot for the Dutchman. They’re certainly one of few golf equipment on this planet that may presumably curiosity Van Dijk, and be capable to cough up the kind of wage that he would demand.
Actual Madrid are usually not at the moment swimming in central defenders because of accidents. Eder Militao, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger and Nacho Fernandez are the senior centre-backs on the membership, none of whom are anticipated to depart within the quick future.
It could be that Nacho is moved on in an effort to make room for Van Dijk, however a distinguished participant may very well be left on the bench every week given Actual Madrid all the time play with solely two centre-backs. This may be extra opportunistic for the Spanish facet ought to it occur, slightly than addressing a real hole.
It could actually harm Liverpool followers to see Van Dijk carrying the shirt of a workforce that has overwhelmed them twice in current Champions League finals.
There have been a number of cases over the previous few years of Paris Saint-Germain attempting to signal Van Dijk, however the defender all the time needed to remain at Liverpool. No matter that, you’ll be able to by no means actually rule PSG out when a distinguished participant probably turns into out there.
They might have the cash to signal him and pay him, and regardless that they do appear to have pitched in the direction of youthful gamers in current switch home windows, Van Dijk would undoubtedly enhance the workforce. Milan Skriniar has not been nearly as good as they could have hoped since arriving from Inter and now additionally has a long-term harm, while Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos are additionally barely under Van Dijk.
With a few outgoings, there could be house for Van Dijk in Paris and he will surely be a starter, no less than for a few seasons.
This definitely appears so much harder from a monetary perspective, however you’ll be able to wager they’re doing a number of sums as we communicate. Barcelona won’t ever utterly let this kind of alternative cross, and there are causes to suppose that Van Dijk would entertain this transfer.
Chatting with Gary Neville on The Overlap again in 2022 about his favorite away stadium to play in, he revealed: “I’d say Camp Nou, Barcelona. Clearly, for myself, watching loads of Barcelona video games after I was youthful after which having the ability to play in it [was amazing].” He additionally named Ronaldinho as his footballing idol in the identical interview, saying: “It is simply the best way that he was, particularly after the second season that he joined Barcelona.”
The likes of Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Andreas Christensen are all good defenders, however they are not Van Dijk. He could be the chief within the workforce and would not should drive his manner in. The funds make it much less seemingly than a PSG or Actual Madrid transfer, however it may be the one he would favor.
Very similar to Barcelona, you’ll be able to’t actually exclude Chelsea from this kind of state of affairs. Even when it looks like it’s going to by no means occur, they will have to interchange Thiago Silva in some unspecified time in the future. They have loads of centre-backs, however as they’ve proven with nearly each place over the previous couple of years, there’s all the time room for another.
Defenders like Trevoh Chalobah, Malang Sarr and Benoit Badiashile might all be gone in the summertime, leaving Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill as gamers that Mauricio Pochettino clearly charges. Wesley Fofana can also be nonetheless on the membership and attempting to get match.
Have been Thiago Silva to name time, there’s a group of gifted younger defenders that might profit so much from somebody like Van Dijk. The primary catch right here is that Chelsea are discovering their wage invoice onerous to handle, and Van Dijk may not fancy becoming a member of a Premier League workforce and going through Liverpool.
The elephant within the room right here is the Saudi Professional League. It appears too early in Van Dijk’s profession to be leaving Europe, however maybe he’ll go away on a free in 2025. He’d be 34 years previous by then.
Any of the highest sides in Saudi Arabia would have the cash and the willingness to signal Van Dijk, however Jordan Henderson’s cautionary expertise could have been sufficient to place him off. The enchantment will after all be the massive pay day on the backend of his profession, however a recent problem in Europe is definitely extra believable at this stage.
