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Liverpool receive Virgil van Dijk transfer request
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Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has urged his former club to finalise a contract extension agreement with Virgil van Dijk.
The Netherlands international is into the final year of his deal at Anfield and he is currently set to become a free agent next summer if Andoni Iraola’s side opt against offering him fresh terms.
Van Dijk was heavily linked with an exit before signing a new two-year agreement in 2025 and Souness has now urged the Liverpool hierarchy to finalise another contract extension with the Reds captain.
“I think there's still life left in Virgil, but what is he 35 now? I think there's definitely another year left on him,” Souness told The Mirror.
“I mean, people criticized him when he got that terrible injury from the Everton goalkeeper Pickford, but he came back from that and it's a lazy thing to say, he's not the same player. I didn't see that.
“I think [Ibrahima] Konate was a difficult player to be playing with. I see there's still life left in Virgil. I'll be giving him another year anyway with an option to take a second year because he's a Rolls-Royce of a player. And if anything, he's got better the longer he's been at Liverpool.
“I mean that's one. He's a Rolls-Royce. He's always been a Rolls-Royce. But as you get older, your brain should be kicking in and even seeing things earlier.”
Liverpool to offer Virgil van Dijk a new deal?
While Liverpool are yet to initiate contract talks with Van Dijk’s camp, it’s highly likely that he will be offered a new deal as Souness wishes.
The Dutchman remains an integral player at Anfield and he has formed an immense partnership with summer signing Jeremy Jacquet during the early weeks of the new campaign.
Liverpool would need to spend a fortune to sign an adequate replacement for Van Dijk next summer and with Giovanni Leoni yet to return from an ACL injury he suffered on his debut last season, it’s highly likely they will offer a new deal to Van Dijk before the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
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