Virgil van Dijk delivers update on his Liverpool future – and reveals there is ‘progress’ on Reds contract talks

Virgil van Dijk insists there is progress in his contract saga and there should be an outcome soon.

Liverpool have stormed to 11 points clear in the Premier League title race but there has been a shadow of uncertainty looming over their season with three of their best players out of contract this summer: Van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Van Dijk has been repeatedly asked about his future this season and has now given an indication that it is reaching a conclusion.

Asked if there was progress, he said: ‘There is progress, yeah.’

Pushed to elaborate if that meant he was staying at Liverpool, the captain replied: ‘I don’t know, we’ll see.’

When quizzed further by Mail Sport asking what he meant by ‘progress’, Van Dijk laughed – he often does when asked about his contract as there is a running joke that he is asked every week without a definitive reply – and said: ‘Listen, these are internal discussions and we’ll see.

‘I love the club, I love the fans and they were there for us again (at Fulham). We wanted to reward them but I ask them to be there again on Sunday and make the stadium an amazing venue like always for us.’

Van Dijk has played a crucial role for Arne Slot’s side this season as they head towards the title

Mohamed Salah’s deal is also expiring at the end of the season, with no extension signed yet

Of the so-called Contract Three, Van Dijk and Salah have always been seen as more likely to stay than Alexander-Arnold. The right back has an offer on the table from Real Madrid and it is widely thought he will end up in the Spanish capital, though nothing is officially signed yet.

There was lots of talk last week about Salah being close to signing, with plenty in his home country of Egypt getting excited. Those suggestions were slightly premature, though there is a feeling that Salah will ultimately sign on.

In an interview last month, Van Dijk spoke of his adoration for the club and talked about his settled family life in the north west. Boss Arne Slot has gone on record to say how much he would like his skipper to stay put.

The Dutchman, meanwhile, reckons that Liverpool’s first-half performance in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Fulham was not acceptable – and they must keep their mentality that the job is not done in the title race.

Asked if Slot was angry at half-time, Van Dijk said: ‘Yeah, of course. Obviously it was more encouraging at half time. We can speak about the tactics as well but he said it was down to us being sloppy and letting them score three goals. It was not acceptable as a team.

‘It was a poor day at the office for all of us. I think they were individual moments that should have been dealt with better. In games, these moments can happen but if you let them back in, they obviously scored three goals and we were on the back foot.

‘No-one can ever be perfect and we were sloppy and today we got punished quickly and like I said then it’s a difficult battle to play. 

‘We still had the belief, still had opportunities but, based on the first half, you can’t argue with the result.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer, with reports in Spain claiming the England star’s move is already ‘done and dusted’

The runaway Premier League leaders were beaten 3-2 by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday

‘We all know as players (that nothing is won yet), I’ve mentioned it every week to you guys but what is important is that there’s seven games left and on to West Ham next Sunday, we have to go all in at home, as a team, as players with the fans and to get the three points.

‘We will be training quite a lot and we are in a very good position but games like this, especially in the first half, show the job is not done and I’ve been saying it every week. That’s definitely the mentality in our group that the job is not done.’