Liverpool have reportedly set a date for contract talks with one of their key defenders amid uncertainty over his next career move.
Captain Virgil van Dijk will be in the final 12 months of his contract by the time July rolls around, leaving Liverpool in a tricky situation regarding a possible sale.
Should no new terms be agreed, the Dutchman would be free to leave the Reds for nothing at the end of the 2024-25 season, seven-and-a-half years on from his £75m switch from Southampton.
Van Dijk added fuel to the fire earlier this year, claiming that he did not know whether he would be part of the post-Jurgen Klopp era as the long-serving German prepares to depart at the end of the season.
Bayern Munich and teams in Saudi Arabia are rumoured to have been monitoring the situation, but Van Dijk quickly clarified his comments and has now insisted that he wants to help Liverpool through their "big transition" under new boss Arne Slot.
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Liverpool 'to speak with Van Dijk at end of season'
The 32-year-old's contract situation is still a matter of priority, though, and Football Insider claims that Liverpool have now pencilled in talks with Van Dijk's representatives.
The report states that the club want to sit down with the Dutchman's camp within a week of the 2023-24 season ending, and talks will be overseen by new sporting director Richard Hughes.
Van Dijk is supposedly still seen as an irreplaceable figure within the Anfield walls, even though he will turn 33 in July, and tying him down to fresh terms is the first item on the board's agenda regarding playing personnel this summer.
The former Celtic man has scored four goals and provided two assists in 46 appearances for Liverpool in the current campaign, taking his total for the Reds to 23 goals and 12 assists in 268 matches.
Van Dijk took over as permanent captain last year following the exits of Jordan Henderson and James Milner, playing a fundamental role in Liverpool's push for Premier League glory before their recent plateau.
Five centre-backs could still leave Liverpool this summer
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Regardless of whether Liverpool can agree fresh terms with Van Dijk this summer, the Netherlands international is primed to act as Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah's superior for at least one more campaign.
The Reds are expected to pursue at least one new central defender this summer and realistically cannot afford to part ways with Van Dijk, as up to five current centre-backs might be on the way out.
Joel Matip, who has missed the whole of 2024 so far due to his ACL injury, is expected to leave when his deal expires in June, while Joe Gomez supposedly wants any serious bids to be considered as he eyes a return to London.
Rhys Williams, Nat Phillips and Sepp van den Berg will seemingly have to advance their careers elsewhere too; the former has even admitted that he will likely have to seek an exit in the upcoming window.
Klopp's men occupy third place in the Premier League table ahead of this weekend's trip to Aston Villa, but they will be eliminated from the title race if Arsenal or Manchester City win just one of their remaining games.
Ben Knapton
