Virgil van Dijk sends clear message to FSG as Liverpool contract talks continue

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has expressed his desire to remain with the club, despite uncertainty over his future.

His contract is set to expire at the end of the season, along with those of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, and there has been little public indication of progress in negotiations although talks are ongoing.

Salah disclosed last month that he had not yet been offered a new deal, while Alexander-Arnold has kept his discussions under wraps. From January, all three players will be eligible to negotiate pre-contract agreements with foreign teams.

However, Van Dijk seems uninterested in this option, stating his wish to stay at Anfield and aim to become the first Dutch player to captain a Premier League-winning side.

"I love the club, the club loves me. I love the fans, the fans love me and it is a very good foundation to be successful. In my opinion I can play for another three, four years at least at the highest level," Van Dijk told Prime Video.

"We will see what the future brings. It's not about me but I would love to be the first one [Dutch player]. I think it is there. That is what we work for as a team."

Van Dijk has consistently played for Liverpool in both the Premier League and Champions League this season, with the Reds currently leading both tables after losing only one match across all competitions so far in 2024-25.

They're hoping to extend their impressive unbeaten run as they welcome a struggling Leicester side on Boxing Day. Victory would secure their four-point lead at the summit of the Premier League, continuing an extraordinary first season for new manager Arne Slot.

Van Dijk, who has retained the captain's armband under Slot, recently praised his compatriot's impact at Anfield.

"I think the step from, with all respect, the Dutch league to the Premier League is a big one in terms of being a player, but for a manager, it is exactly the same," said the skipper.

"He has done very well so far, and he has, in my opinion, inherited a very good squad not only as football players but as human beings – guys who will go to war for each other – and I think he has been so far so good.

"He makes sure we keep working, are not satisfied, focus on what is ahead of us next, and keep improving. You see the patterns we try to do, you see, we can change in games or at half-time, and it's obviously a big credit to him."