Liverpool agree £42m Van Dijk deal – ‘you should never pay that’
Liverpool have wrapped up new deals for ageing duo Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, keeping the two stars at the club until 2027.
Both players, who have been crucial to the Reds’ imminent Premier League title win, had been set to walk away from Anfield for free at the end of this season.
The Guardian have reported (17 April) that Van Dijk’s contract will be worth up to £400,000-a-week after performance-related bonuses – almost £42million across the two years.
He will turn 34 in July but has managed to start every Premier League game for Liverpool so far this term.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted Liverpool will have “thrown the data out the window” when deciding to give Van Dijk a new Anfield deal.
Liverpool ‘throw data out of the window’ and agree Van Dijk deal, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Van Dijk has two or even three good seasons ahead of him despite his advancing years.
The Netherlands international, who continues to play for his country, is on the verge of winning his second Premier League title and first as Liverpool captain.
| Appearances (Starts) | 45 (45) |
| Minutes Played | 4077 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 |
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “All the data would have told Liverpool that you never pay £400,000-a-week for a player of Van Dijk’s age.
“This is one case where you’ve got to take the data and throw it out of the window.
“As an individual, he’s unique in how he’s managed to maintain his physical status.
“He is in very good shape, with two or three good seasons ahead of him.
“I think Liverpool could be planning to keep him not just for next season, but for the season after as well.
“It provides them great stability. It’s not often that players of his age are still as skilled and as physically fit.
“It’s understandable that Liverpool have chosen to pay out that much given the benefits he can provide to this title-winning squad.”
Nunez ready to accept Saudi offer
Meanwhile, Football Insider has revealed (22 April) Darwin Nunez is open to a Saudi Pro League move this summer as he closes in on a Liverpool exit.
Nunez has been scarcely involved in recent weeks – a clear sign he is not trusted to deliver by Slot, who replaced Klopp last year.
The Uruguay international has made just one start in the Premier League in 2025 and has not featured in the Reds’ last two games.
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