Liverpool have successfully paid Virgil van Dijk £40 million to maintain not solely the world’s greatest defender for 2 extra seasons – but in addition the glue that holds them collectively.
By the point Van Dijk’s new two-year contract was introduced it was not a shock to many who the Dutchman was staying at Liverpool.
What was maybe shocking was the extent to which they backed their No. 4 to stay on the stage he’s at till at the very least 2027.
It was already identified that Van Dijk was Liverpool’s second-highest earner, but it surely had been beforehand communicated that his wage was within the area of £200,000 per week – not the £385,000 per week reported on Thursday.
That must be of no concern, in fact: the cash in elite soccer is astonishing however for a participant of his calibre that’s now the going price.
For Fenway Sports activities Group to pledge near £900,000 per week to maintain Van Dijk, 33, and Mohamed Salah, 32, for one more two seasons ought to function a sign of their intentions for the summer season forward.
Constructing all over the world’s greatest
Put quick, Liverpool at the moment are being backed to observe up this season’s Premier League title with ongoing success beneath Arne Slot, with a busy switch window of spending to return.
Van Dijk and Salah, the 2 greatest gamers on the earth of their positions, will stay the cornerstones of Slot’s facet – and rightly so.
There may be an plain aura round a person who stands at 6’5″ and broader than most footballers, and he instructions respect from teammates and opponents alike.
Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez courted jibes after merely giving up in a one-on-one with Van Dijk throughout a Champions League conflict at Anfield in 2022, however that’s the impact his presence has on even the very best round.
It’s notable that Erling Haaland has by no means received a recreation when he has performed in opposition to him, with solely three objectives in his eight clashes with Van Dijk whereas representing Salzburg, Man Metropolis and Norway.
However to centre the information of Van Dijk’s new contract to his on-field impression alone would do a disservice to every part he affords to Liverpool past these extremely constant world-class shows on the coronary heart of their defence.
Greater than only a centre-half
Whereas he solely inherited the captaincy from Jordan Henderson in 2023, when the long-serving midfielder left by means of the again door for Saudi Arabia, Van Dijk has lengthy been thought of Liverpool’s chief.
It’s a function he has embraced and it has come naturally, as his phrases on the membership, town and its folks demonstrated after he put pen to paper.
“It was at all times Liverpool. That was the case. It was at all times in my head, it was at all times the plan and it was at all times Liverpool,” he informed LFCTV.
“There wasn’t any doubt in my head that that is the place to be for me and my household. I’m one in all Liverpool.
“Somebody known as me the opposite day an adopted Scouser – I’m actually proud to listen to these items, it provides me an amazing feeling.”
This isn’t simply lip service; Van Dijk means each phrase and he underlined that as he kissed the badge in entrance of the Kop after heading Liverpool nearer to the Premier League within the final minute in opposition to West Ham.
He’s one in all few constants, each on and off the pitch.
Journalists reporting round this new contract have expressed how open he’s in post-match interviews within the combined zone, by no means shying away whatever the outcome.
That’s definitely in distinction to the hands-off strategy of the participant entrusted as his vice-captain, with Trent Alexander-Arnold avoiding impromptu exchanges with the media all through what’s extensively anticipated to be his last season at Anfield.
When Alexander-Arnold was named vice-captain following the departure of Henderson and James Milner, it was thought of to be the cementing of a succession plan akin to Sami Hyypia and Steven Gerrard beneath Gerard Houllier.
Van Dijk, the one Liverpool defender who has really outshone Hyypia within the Premier League, would maintain the armband till the native hero was deemed able to fulfil his lifelong ambition of changing into full-time captain.
As a substitute the qualities that made Gerrard such an ideal match as captain are present in Van Dijk – a task mannequin on and off the pitch and an instance for all of his teammates.
Main the brand new period
“I perceive very effectively when folks describe him as a pacesetter,” Slot stated of his countryman after 4 months within the job.
“As a result of earlier than I labored with Virgil, I at all times stated I not imagine a lot within the idea of a pacesetter.”
As Slot continued: “Virgil, I believe, is somebody who continually makes certain the boys are there and is the chief in teaching.
“He additionally provides a great instance of methods to stand on a coaching area and what it’s important to do within the health club. And in addition, for the opposite gamers, by continually standing up for himself.”
If Liverpool had allowed Van Dijk to depart this summer season they might have misplaced excess of the world’s greatest defender – it will have been close to unattainable to exchange the impression he has at each stage of the membership.
There could also be different leaders within the squad – amongst them Andy Robertson, whose type can not match his affect – however no participant might substitute the aura their present captain brings.
It might be an understatement to explain it as one much less headache for Slot who, if he had misplaced Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah this summer season, might have gone right into a title defence with an all-new management group.
Put merely, Van Dijk is the embodiment of this new period of success at Liverpool. Dropping him might have been deadly.
