Virgil van Dijk’s defensive partner makes MASSIVE claim about his future

Reds all around the world are all too aware of the ongoing contract saga at the club this season.

Arguably no one should ever know this much about a team’s contract situation. It shouldn’t be this public, this drawn out or this existential.

Liverpool transfer latest: Edwards meets with £30m star as Arne Slot confirms signing

But it is. Mo Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk may depart the club at the end of this season and, for different reasons, each of them would be a disaster.

Alexander-Arnold may be Madrid bound and Salah is facing offers from Saudi Arabia that would make Cristiano Ronaldo blush. But in and amongst this, there aren’t any serious rumours surrounding Van Dijk’s departure.

Anfield Watch has exclusively reported that Van Dijk’s agent is telling interested parties he is no longer available, indicating that a deal is close.

But if you were to ask his former teammates it is all still up in the air.

Jose Fonte thinks Van Dijk is headed to European giants

Jose Fonte, his centre-back partner between 2015-2017 at Southampton, has suggested that Liverpool’s captain could seek greener pastures in the form of some of Europe’s giants next season.

"Van Dijk would thrive at Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich and I wouldn't be surprised to see him at one of those clubs next season", reports Mundo Deportivo.

"I wouldn't be surprised to see him at one of those clubs next season, because those clubs will be looking for defenders who are as reliable as Van Dijk and everyone will be watching if he reaches the end of the season without signing a new contract.

“He can still play at the highest level and has shown that he can take care of himself. He will have no problem staying at the highest level for three or four more years” the former Portuguese international said.

This is, of course, just hearsay. But Fonte knows Van Dijk intimately, sharing a dressing room with the Dutchman and managing 7th and 8th-placed finishes while undertaking UEFA Europa League campaigns.

And as we have seen this season, Van Dijk is still the best centre-back in the world. If he were to depart Liverpool it would be with at least one more good season in him at bare minimum and he wouldn’t want to go anywhere that doesn’t befit the ‘best in the world’ moniker.

READ MORE: Special meeting confirmed between Michael Edwards and £30m winger

So Fonte’s prediction won’t be far away from reality. It is for this reason above anything that Liverpool need to do all they can to retain his services.

Liverpool FC news recap: Richard Hughes' GENIUS move as Van Dijk and Salah sign new deals