"There are a lot of opportunities and clubs willing to take Van Dijk away from Liverpool," Mick Brown said, and the line lands because the basics around Virgil van Dijk's future are already awkward for Liverpool. He is 35, his current contract expires next summer, and Brown says clubs in Saudi Arabia are interested. Brown also said a free transfer would bring suitors quickly.

Brown's warning

Brown's other point is the one Liverpool cannot ignore: "A lot will depend on what happens in talks with Liverpool because it’s not out of the question that he could stay, but at 35 now, you have to wonder where he will end his career." That is the whole issue. The club can still keep him, but the contract clock is already ticking and Brown is flagging outside interest at the same time.

Van Dijk is still performing well enough to keep the debate alive. He has a 7.07 Premier League rating this season and has already played 4 league matches, so this is not a case of declining minutes forcing the issue. The concern is what Liverpool do when the deal runs down next summer.

Liverpool's replacement work

Brown's comments also fit with the way Liverpool are already looking at the position. He said he expects the club to discuss Van Dijk's contract soon and that they will have to make a decision before the end of the season. Liverpool have signed Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni to potentially form a future centre-back partnership, while Brown said Jacquet still has parts of his game that need work if he is to become top class.

The wider centre-back market is not straightforward either. Malick Thiaw is 25, is under contract at Newcastle until the summer of 2029, and Newcastle would demand £65-70million for him. He has a 6.56 Premier League rating, 3 Premier League appearances and 270 league minutes this season, so any Liverpool move would still be a bet on projection rather than a finished article.

Liverpool can keep the captain if talks go their way, but the pressure point is now public. Brown has pointed to Saudi interest, an expiring contract and a decision that has to come before the season ends.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →