Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has expressed his desire to continue working with captain Virgil van Dijk “for a long time,” despite ongoing uncertainty about the defender’s future.
Van Dijk, along with teammates Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, is out of contract at the end of the season and is now able to negotiate with overseas clubs for a pre-contract agreement to join on a free transfer in the summer.
Nonetheless, there is an expectation at Anfield that the 33-year-old will extend his stay with the Premier League leaders, as his impressive form shows no signs of declining.
“Virgil deserves every compliment he gets,” Slot told a news conference on Friday. “He’s been outstanding for this club for so many years and, since I’ve been here, he’s been outstanding for me as well.
“Yesterday [in the 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur] was an example of that. He was, in a good way, aggressive, led the team with and without the ball, he was sharp and ready. It was no coincidence it took 80 mins for Tottenham’s first shot on target. Virgil, just like many others, has had a good season but he wants to make it a great season.
Asked what he hopes the future holds for his captain, Slot added: “Good health is the first thing I wish him, and I hope to continue working with him for a long time, although I don’t think that will surprise you.”