Virgil van Dijk hopes to remain at Liverpool for so long as attainable, with Chelsea defender Thiago Silva as a benchmark as he desires to play into his late 30s.
After a troublesome marketing campaign final season, for participant and crew, Van Dijk seems to be again on his finest season this season.
The Dutchman not too long ago defined how he believes he can “do every thing once more” after absolutely recovering from the cruciate ligament damage he suffered in 2020.
His mobility is again and now that he’s Liverpool captain, he has taken a step extra accountability each on and off the pitch.
Though his contract expires in 2025, there is no such thing as a doubt as as to whether the membership ought to grant the 32-year-old an extension.
And in line with The Athletic, Van Dijk’s ambition is to remain at Liverpool so long as “they nonetheless need him.”
That, he would hope, might occur if he emulates 39-year-old Thiago Silva by staying on the prime stage till his late 30s.
“So long as his physique permits him,” writes Simon Hughes, “he sees no cause why he cannot be at Liverpool.”
You might argue that Chelsea are too reliant on their No.6 at this stage – he has performed the total 90 minutes in each Premier League recreation thus far this season – however his enduring high quality is obvious.
The prospect of Van Dijk remaining a fixture in Jürgen Klopp’s backline (and probably his successor) for an additional 5 years or extra is enticing.
Hughes explains that there aren’t any ongoing issues with the centre-back’s knee, and that he has now introduced in a private physio for therapy outdoors of ‘working hours’.
“It’s not a dismissal of the therapy he’s receiving at Liverpool,” the reporter added.
“The fact is that if he looks like he wants a therapeutic massage late within the night, wherever on this planet, the physio is there when he wants him, even through the summer time when he’s within the final weeks of his vacation is. .”
Liverpool’s season within the Europa League has relaxed Van Dijk’s schedule considerably, with only one look within the competitors, whereas he has additionally missed each Carabao Cup matches thus far.
That doesn’t detract from his significance to Klopp’s crew. Quite, it’s a mutual settlement that if the quantity 4 desires to remain on the prime for so long as he hopes, concessions must be made someplace.
If it means Van Dijk indicators a brand new long-term contract and performs at Thiago Silva’s stage as he approaches 40, then it’s definitely value it.
