Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is reluctant to commit his future to the Reds until the club’s long-term outlook becomes clear, with the defender unsure of what to expect when his contract expires at Anfield next summer.
Van Dijk is one of three stars under contract until 2025, alongside Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold. There are no immediate concerns that the captain will want out, but he is keen to see what happens before signing an extension.
Asked if he felt part of the next era after Jurgen Klopp left the club, Van Dijk said: “That’s a big question. I do not know. ‘Klopp will be accompanied by sporting director Jörg Schmatke, coaches Pep Lijnders, Peter Kravitz and Vitor Matos when he departs.
Asked if he only had 18 months left on his contract, the captain replied: “Yes. Good math. I do not know It is understood that the club has a lot of work ahead of it.
“There have been a lot of changes as not only the manager but the entire staff has been replaced. I wonder what direction it will take. But we’ll see where we stand once this is announced.
I can’t say much about it. The Klopp era will end and I’m still part of it. So I don’t want to talk about it. This is my main goal. We’ll see at the end of the season and hopefully we can get the success we’ve all dreamed of and then we’ll have more information about what the club wants going forward and we’ll see then.
“Van Dijk: “Nothing has really changed (in the squad’s mentality since Klopp’s announcement). Obviously, things will change once the season is over and a new season comes. But that is not the case now, and we must do the same.
“It’s easier said than done, but I think the rest of the guys feel the same way and it’s up to me to stay that way. Today was a good day. The director said this at the press conference. Ask everything there. Then we will refocus on what we want to achieve.
“That’s how I see it. We can say every week what’s going to happen next year, but it doesn’t change. It’s unnecessary noise so I’m just focusing on getting the job done so I don’t think anything has changed.
“Like before, of course different things will happen at the end of the season, but the club has to understand that.”
