According to a recent report by The Daily Mirror, Liverpool are set to offer Virgil Van Dijk a new contract which could see him become the highest-paid defender in world football. The same source has also revealed that the Reds currently have the third highest wage bill in the Premier League and their costs will only increase if the Dutch defender pens a new deal next summer.
Van Dijk’s Remarkable Career At Merseyside So Far
Since arriving from Southampton at the start of 2018, Van Dijk has completely transformed the Merseyside club’s fortunes by bringing some calmness and leadership to Jurgen Klopp’s defence. He had the best year of his playing career last season when he won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool and was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or, ultimately only finishing second to Lionel Messi.
His influence has continued to grow this season as Van Dijk has been the one constant feature at the heart of the Reds defence. He formed a dominant partnership with Joel Matip at the early stages of this campaign before the Cameroonian got injured. The Dutch defender got the best out of Dejan Lovren during the festive winter period before bagging an impressive run of clean sheets with Joe Gomez playing alongside him in recent months.
Van Dijk has managed to find a level of consistency irrespective of who he plays with at the centre of Klopp’s backline. He has also got the best out of his centre-back partners which explains why Liverpool are still unbeaten in the English top-flight this term.
What Does The Dutch Colossus Bring To The Table?
Van Dijk has made 37 appearances for the European champions this term, scoring four goals and registering one assist in all competitions. The fact that he has chipped in with his fair share of goals and assists only highlights his growing influence at Anfield. More importantly, the Dutch international has continued to prove his worth on the defensive end of the field by averaging 0.8 tackles, 1.1 interceptions and 4.8 clearances per 90 minutes in the English first division (stats via whoscored).
The 28-year-old has been a commanding presence at the back and has excelled at winning a lot of aerial duels for his team. He is good at reading the danger quicker than most others around him and can turn on the afterburners to recover when left exposed in a 1v1 footrace. The Breda-born talent has also been responsible for making some vital last-gasp clearances for his side. He is often accurate with his ball-distribution after completing 88.9% of his passes in the Premier League this season (stats via whoscored).
Van Dijk Set To Be Offered A Lucrative Contract: Good Move For All Parties?
Van Dijk has arguably been the best centre-back in world football over the past 18 months. Hence, it is a no-brainer for Liverpool to offer him a new deal in the off-season. If the Reds are planning to make him the highest-paid defender in football history, then it shows their ambition and intent to dominate English football for years to come.
Hence, the possibility of the Dutch defender penning a lucrative long-term contract this summer could be a good move for both the player and the club. His defensive qualities, coupled with his leadership and communication skills, make him an invaluable member of Klopp’s squad.
