Virgil van Dijk will discuss an extremely sensitive transfer next week

Milan Keskin

6 Jun 2024 07:50 BST
3 min read

Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool — © IMAGO

Virgil van Dijk could be one of a number of European stars who moves to the Saudi Pro League next summer, with the Liverpool icon set to hold talks over a deal that would highly controversial.

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According to transfer market expert Rudy Galetti, The Public Investment Fund has planned some discussions with a number of top players, who may be open to a departure to the Middle East. Van Dijk is one of them.

The Netherlands star, 32, signed for Liverpool in January 2018 for €85 million and developed into one of the best centre-backs of his generation under Jurgen Klopp. However, it may well be that the captain of his international team, just like his German manager, is on his way to the exit at Anfield.

STATS

Virgil van Dijk

V (C)

Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk

V (C)

Liverpool

48

Games
4

Goals
2

Assists

With Liverpool turning a new leaf with the arrival of Arne Slot, it could be the right time for Van Dijk to consider a move away.

Things are not that far advanced yet, though. The PIF will sound out some top players to discover whether they are open to a move to the Middle East.

There is also the possibility that Liverpool do not cooperate in the departure of their captain, who could play a leading role in Slot’s plans for next season.

© IMAGO - Virgil van Dijk's Liverpool contract is up in 2025

Transfer possibilities

According to Galetti, Van Dijk is not the only player who will be surveyed by the Saudi investment fund. Manchester City pair Ederson and Bernardo Silva, as well as Roma midfielder Leandro Paredes are also on the list.

Van Dijk still has a contract at Anfield until 2025, which means that the club will have to make a decision about the defender's future at some point. If the English outfit wait too long, there is a good chance that the 32-year-old Breda native will walk out the door for free next year and still leave for Saudi Arabia, for example.

Van Dijk has also been linked to Borussia Dortmund, where he has been touted as a possible replacement for Mats Hummels. It is doubtful BVB could fund a move, though the player fuelled these suggestions by following a bunch of the club’s stars on social media recently.