FSG and Richard Hughes have got some EXPLAINING to do over Van Dijk contract
Liverpool are facing a nightmare contract scenario in summer 2025.
Club captain Virgil van Dijk, homegrown hero Trent Alexander-Arnold and all-time goalscoring legend Mohamed Salah are all free to speak to overseas clubs about potential pre-contract agreements.
READ MORE: Richard Hughes on brink of first complete FAILURE at Liverpool
That’s been the case since January 1 with sporting director Richard Hughes failing to find a compromise with any one of the three before the deadline.
Van Dijk’s contract was reckoned by fans to be the ‘easiest’ to sort. In fact, we reported back in November that a renewal was all but done. It looked like a formality that an announcement would be soon forthcoming about the 33-year-old’s renewal.
“Barring a bizarre late twist,” we wrote, “Van Dijk will be staying with Liverpool”. We hate to tempt fate here but maybe that bizarre twist has come to pass.
Because there’s simply no excuse why Hughes and FSG haven’t managed to get at least one of these deals over the line by now. In our story we stated that Van Dijk’s representatives had told potentially interested parties he was effectively off the market.
That alone would have suggested how close the deal was to being ratified. But in recent weeks links have re-emerged between Van Dijk and Real Madrid. That would appear to contradict the information that a new contract was close.
What's the hold up with Van Dijk?
Around Christmas it was reported that Madrid were prepared to ship out David Alaba and Eder Militao in order to accommodate Van Dijk’s arrival in summer. Then it was reported that Van Dijk’s team had actually offered their client’s services to Los Blancos, an offer which Madrid are said to have rejected.
Van Dijk also commented about his situation ahead of Liverpool's Boxing Day fixture against Leicester, warning the club that he had three or four more years at the highest level in him.
After the weekend game against Manchester United, Van Dijk was asked for an update on his contract situation. “Nothing” was his reply. It is clear there is an impasse between Van Dijk at the club. Whether it’s connected to Salah and Alexander-Arnold’s renewals can only be speculated on.
But FSG and Richard Hughes had a chance to take a HUGE step forward and prepare for next season with the skipper in their plans.
So what’s the hold up?
There was widespread optimism that Liverpool would announce a mega deal for Van Dijk - reported to be around two years - but according to the player the parties remain further apart than ever.
There’s no question it’s leading to a sense of dismay on the part of supporters. If Hughes and FSG can’t get Van Dijk over the line, then what chance do the deals for Salah and Trent stand? Let’s hope we don’t have to find out.