“There are ongoing discussions” – Arne Slot on Virgil van Dijk Liverpool contract negotiations
Van Dijk has less than one year left on his Liverpool contract
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has expressed confidence regarding the contract situations of Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah, despite confirming that the club has initiated discussions with the players.
Liverpool risk losing all three stars if new contracts are not secured, with their current deals set to expire at the end of the current season.
January is approaching, and the urgency for the club to finalise agreements is growing, as players can begin negotiating pre-contracts with foreign clubs.
Last month, Virgil van Dijk confirmed that talks regarding a new deal are underway but did not specify the progress made in those discussions.
Slot has maintained a discreet stance on the contract situations of Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold, and Salah, leveraging his role as head coach to take a less hands-on approach than his predecessor.
Ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton, he confirmed the ongoing discussions with Van Dijk but downplayed concerns regarding the futures of all three players.
“For me, the contract situation could become a problem if the players don’t perform as well as they do at the moment, although then it’s also not sure that if they don’t perform as good anymore that it has anything to do with their contract situation,” Slot said in his press conference on Friday.
“At the moment, all three of them are in a good place, they all perform really, really well, and there are ongoing discussions between, what Virgil said, the people he had to talk with.
“And that’s not me, as you know!
“I talk to him about other things. Let’s wait and see.
“All that he says, I think he’s completely right that he doesn’t exactly know what the future will bring as long as he doesn’t sign the contract.”
Speculation continues regarding the futures of three key players at Liverpool.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid, while Saudi Arabian clubs appear to be pursuing Mohamed Salah.
Virgil van Dijk has been the most candid of the trio about his future.
However, it remains uncertain whether the Liverpool captain will extend his stay at Anfield.
“I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun,” he says.
“What the future brings I have no idea at the moment, but like I said in my previous answer, discussions are ongoing with the right people.
“When it’s time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well.
“But now, full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season.
“So we will see.”
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