Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk has confirmed that talks regarding a new contract have started but admitted he’s uncertain whether he’ll still be at Anfield next season.
The future of several key players remains unclear, with Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah all out of contract at the end of the current campaign.
At 33, Van Dijk acknowledged that negotiations are ongoing but didn’t offer a clear indication about his long-term plans with the club.
"I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don't know, we will see what happens in the future," he stated.
"My very full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see.
"I feel very good, physically, mentally and I am having fun. Discussions are ongoing with the right people and when it's time to make a decision or whatever, I think you guys [the media] will know it as well.
"But now full commitment and focus is on Liverpool and to be successful this season. So we will see.
"Similar concerns have been raised about Alexander-Arnold, following rumors of interest from Real Madrid. Addressing the speculation, coach Slot assured the media that such distractions won’t affect the players' performance.
"I think you underestimate our players. These players are used to being linked with all the top clubs on a daily basis, if they have contracts or not," he commented during Friday’s press conference.
"If you think they're disturbed by this interest then you don't do justice to how strong they are mentally. This is part of our job. This is part of this world we are living in. You just focus on what you have to do.
"Maybe if you're 17 or 18 years of age it could be difficult for you. But Trent has won the league, has won the Champions League; Virgil and Mo the same. I don't think that is a problem for them to perform and that's what we see at the moment because they're playing really well."
The January 2025 transfer window saw a record-breaking $2.35 billion spent on international men's soccer transfers, a 58% increase from the previous year and 47.1% higher than the previous record set in 2023.
English clubs dominated the market, with Manchester City leading the way, spending over $224 million on five players as they looked to reinforce their squad for the title race.
The most expensive signing of the window was Colombian forward Jhon Duran, who completed a $79.97 million move from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr, marking another significant signing for the Saudi Pro League.
Reflecting on the increased spending, FIFA's Head of Global Transfers, Emilio García Silvero, stated, “The numbers reflect the growing financial power of top clubs, particularly in Europe and the Middle East, as they continue to invest heavily in elite talent.”
The record-breaking window was not limited to men's football, as women’s soccer also saw a historic high of $5.8 million in transfer spending, with English clubs again leading the charge.
This increase in investment signifies the rapid growth of the women’s game, as more clubs look to build competitive squads ahead of major tournaments.
Despite the surge in spending, financial experts have raised concerns about sustainability, especially regarding the high wages and transfer fees being paid.
Football finance analyst Kieran Maguire commented, “While transfer spending continues to rise, clubs must be mindful of long-term financial stability to avoid overspending beyond their means.”
With clubs in both men's and women's football showing no signs of slowing down, the next transfer windows are expected to continue setting new financial benchmarks.
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