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- Dutchman has been in imperious form this term for the Premier League leaders
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Virgil van Dijk has insisted that he remains ‘calm’ about his contractual situation despite not expecting any new developments as the clock ticks down on his current deal.
The 33-year-old Dutchman is one of three Liverpool stars out of contract in the summer and is now free to agree a pre-contract agreement with clubs outside of England.
Most of the attention surrounding the trio has focussed on Mohamed Salah, who has made a number of public statements on the matter, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was the subject of a £20million bid from Real Madrid last week.
This has meant that the Reds skipper has been largely absent from the speculation. Though, he has addressed the uncertainty and insisted that he remains calm about his future.
‘Nothing,’ he said when asked by Sky Sports if there was anything new on the contract front.
Pushed on if he was expecting any update soon, Van Dijk replied: ‘I don’t think so, but I am calm about it, like I said months ago.
Virgil van Dijk has insisted that he remains ‘calm’ amid his ongoing contract uncertainty at Anfield
The futures of Mohamed Salah (left) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) have attracted the most interest in recent weeks
‘We’ll see what happens in the future and at this point I have got absolutely no update. It’s all about at the moment focusing, for me and the team, on Spurs [on Wednesday night]. It will be a tough game again, but a good [Carabao Cup] semi-final.’
Van Dijk has returned to his best form this season under the management of Arne Slot, whose side have impressed in the first half of the campaign.
Last month, the veteran defender claimed that he has ‘three or four years’ left at the highest level as he dropped a major hint over his contract situation.
Speaking to Amazon Prime, he said: ‘I love the club, the club loves me. I love the fans, the fans love me and it is a very good foundation to be successful.
‘In my opinion I can play for another three, four years at least at the highest level. We will see what the future brings.’
In December, Van Dijk was offered a new deal, but there was reportedly no breakthrough in negotiations with the 33-year-old.
In the same interview, Van Dijk suggested that he has aspirations to become the first Dutch captain to lead his team to the Premier League title.
‘It’s not about me but I would love to be the first one [Dutch player],’ Van Dijk added. ‘I think it is there. That is what we work for as a team.’
Some Liverpool supporters made their feelings known ahead of the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Manchester United
Reports in Spain claim that Van Dijk was rejected by Real Madrid after being offered to the European champions but sources have rubbished the reports
Reports in Spain claim Van Dijk was rejected by Real Madrid after being offered to the European champions, but sources have rubbished the reports.
He is the second of Liverpool’s three soon-to-be out-of-contract stars linked with a move to the Spanish capital in recent weeks.
Madrid’s interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold is longstanding and their determination to take the Scouser from his boyhood club was confirmed last week when a £20million bid was tabled for a services in January.
The Reds have little interest in letting the 26-year-old depart this month as they bid to win the Premier League for only the second time.
