Virgil van Dijk has left his Liverpool future open, with the defender saying he will go somewhere else if no extension is agreed. He is in the final year of his contract with Liverpool, which expires on June 30, 2027, and he can start negotiating with overseas clubs from January if nothing is settled.
Milan's free-transfer case
The strongest interest looks to be coming from AC Milan, with Juventus also monitoring the situation. Milan would only pursue him on a free transfer because of his age and wages, which is why the move only really makes sense if Liverpool do not renew him.
Van Dijk is 35, but his numbers still read like those of a top-level defender. He has a 7.05 Premier League rating across 10 appearances and 900 minutes this season, and he was rated 7.25 in Liverpool’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.
The Italian interest also fits Milan's standing. They are fourth in Serie A with 24 points from 11 games, while Juventus are seventh with 18 points from 11 games.
Van Dijk's own message
Van Dijk gave the clearest version of his position in comments quoted by football-italia.net: "Let’s see what the season brings. I’ve had an amazing time already so far. If that will be extended, that’s the case. If not, then I will go somewhere else."
He made the same point again in comments translated from Italian by TuttoMercatoWeb: "If it is extended, all the better. Otherwise, I will go elsewhere. There is nothing to report at the moment, but that does not mean that I am panicking. Mentally I am well; physically I have had a small problem in these last two weeks, but I am doing everything possible to be present on the pitch."
Liverpool do not have a deal in place, and the January window now looks significant because that is when Van Dijk can speak to clubs outside England. If the contract is still unresolved by then, Milan and Juventus will be waiting.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
