New deal for Van ’ Dijk would be huge for Liverpool

New deal for Van Dijk would be huge for Liverpool

It was seven years ago today that Liverpool announced the signing of Van Dijk from Southampton, and nobody would dispute that it hasn’t been a case of £75m exceptionally well spent.

The Reds’ defence had been a major Achilles heel in Jurgen Klopp’s first two years as manager, but in the Dutch centre-back’s first full season at Anfield (in which he was virtually ever-present), we conceded a miserly 22 Premier League goals.

It was no coincidence that our title defence in 2020/21 unravelled as the impact of his nine-month ACL injury was sorely felt, nor that LFC won two trophies and came within a whisker of winning two more once he’d returned for the 2021/22 campaign.

Nobody has played more minutes for Liverpool this term than Van Dijk (2,070), and he’s once again been the bedrock of the second-best defence in the Premier League (17 goals conceded in as many games).

With Ibrahima Konate sidelined and Jarell Quansah regressing of late after such an impressive breakthrough last season, the Dutchman’s importance to the Reds can’t be overstated.

We’ll await official confirmation from the club until we celebrate any new contract which may be in the offing, but with each passing day it seems increasingly likely that he’ll renew his commitment to Arne Slot’s league leaders.