After he confirmed talks were ongoing, fans can have confidence that Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk will renew terms at Liverpool due to his deal being more straightforward than extensions for Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, according to Reds expert David Lynch.
The Dutch defender marshalled Liverpool's defence against Chelsea and RB Leipzig in the past week and has helped propel Liverpool to first place in the Premier League while conceding just three goals in eight top-flight matches.
The Reds captain has formed a formidable partnership with Ibrahima Konate at the heart of defence, and the Dutchman has arguably been one of the Reds' best players this term, but fans are still concerned that he could leave the club for free at the end of the season given he has less than a year left on his current deal.
However, Lynch has said that he is optimistic the 33-year-old will extend his stay on Merseyside, especially after the centre-back confirmed he and his representatives were engaged in contract discussions with the club.
"I was part of the group of journalists who spoke to Virgil after the game about that. And yeah, he wasn't really giving too much away in terms of, you know, how it was progressing and whether he felt it was going to get signed. But I still think it's a massive positive that those talks are now being confirmed as ongoing, because I think the last time we asked him about it was at one of the pre-season games against Sevilla, and at that point he said there were no talks ongoing.," Lynch told Sports Mole.
"So, it is a step forward. It is a positive. Again, with that one, I do, you know, I tend towards optimism on that one as well."
Easier deals to do than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah?
Arne Slot's start to life at Liverpool has been nothing short of spectacular, with the former Feyenoord manager winning 11 of his first 12 games in charge, a feat that no other coach has achieved in the club's history.
Despite resounding success on the pitch, Slot has had the headache of not knowing whether Alexander-Arnold, Salah or Van Dijk will stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 campaign, with all three set to depart the Reds for free at the end of the season.
Though Lynch was less optimistic about deals for Salah and Alexander-Arnold, he told Sports Mole that Van Dijk's contract situation was the most straightforward to solve.
"Wage-wise, he's not near a Mo Salah in terms of he's not near that £350,000 a week. I wouldn't expect he would necessarily need a bump in terms of wages. So, I think it's a straightforward one for Liverpool to do.
"The desire is there on the club's side and the player's side. I think possibly of the three, it's maybe the most straightforward, actually. And so, yeah, I'm hopeful that one will get done as well, to be honest."
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Still world-class
Lynch also argued that the centre-back has performed at a world-class level this season, suggesting that not only is the defender is desperate to stay at Liverpool, but also that extending his contract should be a simple decision by the club.
"I would say on the basis that I think Virgil has made it very clear to us whenever he spoke to us in the mix zone, you know, since last season really, that he would love to stay at Liverpool. He's very happy there. He wants to keep being captain. He's very settled in the city. So, you know, I think the desperation on his side is definitely there to stay.
"For Liverpool, I think it's just a little bit of a no-brainer as well in terms of, you know, he's playing at a world-class level. He plays in a position where he can go a little bit longer. One of the things he actually said to us at the weekend was that, you know, he's feeling great in his body. He's feeling like he can play on for a long time.
"He feels good mentally. And as I say, centre-half is a position where you can do that for a little bit longer. And, you know, Liverpool have got arguably the world's best centre-back on the books there, one who wants to stay."
Van Dijk will lead Liverpool out against Arsenal on Sunday at the Emirates, and should the Reds captain help his side earn all three points, then his side could significantly dent the Gunners' title ambitions.
Lewis Nolan
