Virgil van Dijk is open to leaving Liverpool when his current contract expires next summer.
The 35-year-old defender has spent nearly seven years at Anfield since arriving in January 2018, winning the Champions League in 2019 and claiming two league titles during his 389 appearances in all competitions, according to Fussball Europa. Yet with less than a year remaining on his deal, the club captain admitted his future beyond the current campaign remains undecided.
“The extension? If it happens, good, otherwise I’m going somewhere else,” van Dijk told reporters, as reported by 90min.de.
AC Milan has emerged as a primary suitor for the Dutch center-back. Club owner Gerry Cardinale and senior advisor Zlatan Ibrahimović have identified van Dijk as a top target to help restore the Serie A side to domestic prominence, according to reporting from Gazzetta dello Sport cited by Fussball Transfers.
The defender has previously expressed admiration for former Milan greats Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini, a factor that could aid the Italian club’s pursuit.
AC Milan faces competition from several Turkish clubs and teams in Saudi Arabia, Fussball Transfers reported. Meanwhile, initial discussions regarding a potential one-year extension through 2028 have taken place between Liverpool officials and representatives for the player, according to 4-4-2.com.
Van Dijk addressed his contractual status while on international duty with the Netherlands, where he was recently ruled out of upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Greece and Germany due to minor physical issues, as noted by Vietnam.vn.
Despite those fitness concerns, the defender has started every Premier League fixture this season for a Liverpool side adjusting under manager Andoni Iraola following a mixed start that includes defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal.
“I feel good, but right now it is not about me. Let’s see. I am not in panicking mode,” van Dijk said. “I want to keep playing and continue what I am doing. Let’s see what the season brings.”
Liverpool has not abandoned efforts to retain the veteran leader, partly due to his role as a mentor to younger squad members such as Jeremy Jacquet, 90min.de reported.
Discussions between the club and the player’s representatives are expected to continue into next year, according to 4-4-2.com.
