Slot is yet to officially take charge of the Reds, and things are already piling up on his to-do list.
Top of that should really be finalising exactly who will be on his coaching team at Anfield. That hasn’t yet been boxed off.
After that, the transfer market will be taking most of Slot’s attention. Liverpool have a little bit of work to do there.
The new head coach should also be careful not to lose sight of one of the most pressing matters at the club right now, though: sorting out three, very ‘dangerous’ contract situations.
Virgil van Dijk speaks out about contract situation
One of the three players currently entering the final 12 months of his deal is captain Virgil van Dijk.
As quite probably Liverpool’s best player in 2023/24, Slot cannot afford to lose Van Dijk. Not now, and not really in 12 months
However, Virgil himself seems relatively calm on the situation. Speaking to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, the 32-year-old says that it ‘doesn’t make sense’ to focus on his contract while Slot is still getting settled in.
“A new contract hasn’t yet been discussed,” says the captain. “That isn’t surprising, because the club was completely busy with the new trainer, the staff and everything.
“Then it doesn’t make sense to start working with players. You can always talk and we will see how that will go.”
Van Dijk also outlined the conversation he’d had with Slot, as he prepares to move into the AXA Training Centre this weekend.
“I didn’t feel like this was a farewell conversation and I think he also sees me in Liverpool 2.0,” said the centre-back.
“I got the feeling that he’s happy that I’m still there and will be there next season, so that I can help him where necessary. This allows us to achieve success on the field.”
Will Virgil van Dijk sign a new contract?
Based on FSG’s track record with high-earners of Van Dijk’s age, you’d have to say it feels unlikely that the Liverpool owners will sign the captain up again.
By the time his deal runs out next year Virgil will be turning 34. To stick him on another massive contract beyond that would seem like a big gamble.
Having said that, Van Dijk is a special case. The Dutchman is quite possibly the best Premier League defender of all time and is still operating at the highest level.
Despite his age, there’s still a chance that Van Dijk plays on for another few years beyond 2025. That should be at Liverpool.
For now, we’d say the most likely scenario is that Virgil plays out his final year and leaves for nothing next year. We’d love to be proven wrong, though. The next weeks and months will be crucial.
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