Liverpool have offered a new contract to star defender Virgil van Dijk, but the two parties have yet to reach an agreement, according to reports.
Van Dijk, 33, is one of three key Liverpool players whose current deals are set to expire at the end of the 2022-23 season, along with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
While Liverpool are keen to keep their influential captain, the report states that the club’s initial contract offer has fallen short of Van Dijk’s expectations. The Dutchman is currently earning around £220,000 per week, well below Salah’s club-record £350,000 per week.
Discussions are ongoing between Liverpool’s leadership, including chief executive Michael Edwards and sporting director Richard Hughes, and Van Dijk’s representatives. However, a sticking point appears to be the length of the potential new deal, with the club potentially only willing to offer a two-year contract given Van Dijk’s age.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has avoided commenting publicly on the contract situations of his star players, but the club has emphasized their desire to retain Van Dijk, who delivered a standout performance in the recent 2-0 win over Manchester City .
The report suggests that the release of information about Liverpool’s contract offer to Van Dijk could be a strategic move by one side to gain leverage in the negotiations. With the January transfer window approaching, both the club and the player will be keen to resolve the situation in the coming weeks.
