Liverpool is reportedly close to finalizing a new contract for club captain Virgil van Dijk, shortly after officially securing Mohamed Salah’s extension.
According to Pete O’Rourke on Football Insider’s *Inside Track* podcast, both Salah’s and Van Dijk’s new deals are effectively worth over £100 million each when factoring in the cost of replacing players of their caliber.
Despite their advancing ages—Salah at 32 and Van Dijk at 33—both players remain central to new manager Arne Slot’s plans. Van Dijk is expected to commit to a two-year contract, similar in structure to Salah’s.
Salah’s contract renewal was announced on April 11, and Van Dijk is expected to follow after prolonged speculation. Throughout the season, the club remained optimistic about retaining both stars, especially following a December report from Football Insider suggesting the duo would renew their contracts.
However, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid has complicated matters, as the initial goal was to secure the futures of all three key players simultaneously.
Liverpool remains encouraged by Salah and Van Dijk’s extensions but is actively exploring defensive reinforcements. As early as February, the club began scouting potential new centre-backs, anticipating the need to strengthen their backline.
In addition, Liverpool is eyeing West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen as a possible successor to Salah, and as an alternative to Newcastle’s Alexander Isak.
While the contract renewals offer a boost to Liverpool’s title ambitions, the club is preparing for a major overhaul under Slot. Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that as many as ten core players could leave over the next two to three years.
Names like Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Robertson, Van Dijk, and Tsimikas are among those being considered for future exits, along with ongoing questions surrounding Salah, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, and Diogo Jota’s long-term roles at the club.
