Liverpool head coach Arne Slott has addressed the membership’s inevitable future with out captain Virgil van Dijk, insisting that whereas defenders stay vital, the hierarchy is already getting ready for the transition.
Forward of the essential sport in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, Slott insisted Liverpool’s recruitment technique was based mostly on long-term stability, slightly than after-the-fact “panic”.
The feedback got here after the Reds secured a €60 million deal for Rennes’ 20-year-old sensation Jeremy Jacquet, who’s extensively seen because the Dutch giants’ long-term successor.
Slott declares plans to signal Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk
Slott spoke frankly in regards to the actuality of growing older star gamers, declaring that Van Dijk’s present contract runs till June 2027, however the membership have to look forward.
Talking to the media forward of the sport in opposition to Metropolis (through BBC Sport), he stated: “What’s been achieved right here is rarely out of panic, it is all the time long-term concepts or issues which have been considered for a very long time and never simply by one particular person.
“Clearly, we’re conscious of the truth that Virgil will not play for one more 10 years, however he has one other 12 months and a half left on his contract so he’ll be with us for that lengthy and possibly even longer if he continues to remain as wholesome as he’s now.
“What a praise it’s to play each three days at this age, not only for our membership, however for his nation for seven or eight months already.
“Hopefully he can preserve his type for a few years to return, however this membership isn’t silly. We all know that someplace within the subsequent few years there’s life at this membership after Virgil.”
“You might be speaking about Virgil, however that is true for any place. This membership is considering not solely in regards to the short-term future, but in addition in regards to the medium- and long-term future.”
Van Dijk is a superb servant to Liverpool
Since arriving from Southampton for £75m in 2018, Virgil van Dijk has been on the coronary heart of Liverpool’s most profitable interval of their trendy historical past.
His affect in main the group to Premier League and Champions League titles continues to be monumental.
Even at age 34, his stats stay elite. This season he has received extra aerial duels (119) than some other defender within the Premier League.
Van Dijk can play at an elite degree for just a few extra years.
Regardless of the membership signing younger reinforcements resembling Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, Van Dijk’s health proves he can proceed to play on the prime degree for just a few extra years.
The supervisor urged there was a great likelihood he may lengthen his contract past 2027 so long as his health ranges are maintained.
| class | standing |
|---|---|
| Matches performed (all competitions) | 353 (ongoing) |
| Objectives (all competitions) | 31 |
| Variety of assists (all competitions) | 16 |
| clear sheet | 130+ |
| premier league title | 2 (2019-20, 2024-25) |
| UEFA Champions League | 1 (2018–19) |
| FA Cup | 1 (2021–22) |
| league cup | 2 (2022, 2024) |
| FA Neighborhood Protect | 1 (2022) |
| UEFA Tremendous Cup | 1 (2019) |
| fifa membership world cup | 1 (2019) |
Along with his management within the dressing room and unparalleled studying of the sport, Van Dijk stays the gold normal.
Whereas the membership is constructing correctly for its medium- and long-term future, its rapid priorities stay centered on the person who has redefined Liverpool’s defence.
