Sources: Liverpool have clear Virgil van Dijk sale plan
Liverpool plan to allow Virgil van Dijk to see out the end of his contract and have no intention of selling him in the summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The 34-year-old’s current deal at Anfield doesn’t expire until the summer of 2027, and he is still seen as a key part of the Reds’ plans for next season as the club captain.
The Merseysiders are keen to add to their long-term centre-back options, with Ibrahima Konate set to head out of the door, and sources say that selling Van Dijk is seen as counter-productive to that aim.
Van Dijk has come under fire after Liverpool’s defeat to Bournemouth last time out, but he is yet to miss a single minute of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign.
Liverpool’s centre-back depth is badly stretched
Ibrahima Konate is edging towards a Liverpool exit with his contract set to expire in the summer, and little sign of a last-ditch attempt from the club to try and agree on a renewal.
The Frenchman missed the defeat at Bournemouth through personal reasons, and his absence has contributed towards the Reds’ depth at the centre of their backline being stretched to its limit.
Van Dijk and Joe Gomez started the game at the Vitality Stadium, but Wataru Endo was then forced to take over when the latter of that starting duo was forced off through injury before half-time.
Liverpool have just four senior players who are a natural fit for the centre-back role in their squad, but with Giovanni Leoni out for the remainder of the season, the latest issues with Konate and Gomez are set to provide a headache for Arne Slot.
Adding fresh options at the heart of the rearguard is clearly a majority priority for the summer transfer window, and the persistent issues that have plagued the Reds in recent weeks have seemingly forced their hand regarding Van Dijk’s future.
The Reds have eyes on Micky van de Ven as a key target
Football Insider revealed on Saturday that Micky van de Ven could push to leave Tottenham if their situation doesn’t improve before the end of the season.
That will be music to the ears of liverpool, who have already identified the Dutchman as an immediate replacement for Konate, and a long-term successor to Van Dijk.
Van de Ven has been a key performer for Tottenham in recent years, but his desire to play Champions League football looks unlikely to be fulfilled in North London next season, unless Spurs enjoy a drastic turnaround before the end of the season.
Liverpool could look to exploit that and strike a deal for the 24-year-old in the summer, although they would likely face heavy competition from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Their Premier League rivals would demand a huge fee for one of their star men, but the Reds know that they would be strengthening a vital part of the team in the process.