Van Dijk nears two-year extension as Liverpool aim to lock in core players and avoid summer upheaval

Liverpool are on the verge of securing a fresh deal with captain Virgil van Dijk, just days after Mohamed Salah entered the final stages of negotiations over a new contract—marking a major double boost for the club as they cruise toward their 20th league title.

Sources suggest the Dutch defender is “extremely close” to agreeing a two-year extension, with Salah expected to ink a similar deal. While neither contract has been finalised, club insiders believe it would now take an unexpected twist for either player to leave before next season.

This looming announcement comes as Liverpool sit 11 points clear at the Premier League summit, poised to deliver a first title under Arne Slot in what has been a season of both dominance and quiet uncertainty behind the scenes.

The push to tie down Van Dijk and Salah has become increasingly urgent amid a trio of expiring contracts that also includes Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose future looks far less certain. The right-back is in talks with Real Madrid, and the possibility of a free transfer in the summer has raised alarm in the corridors of Anfield.

But the club’s decision to focus on two-year deals appears strategic. Keeping their talismanic figures under contract not only secures continuity on the pitch but helps Slot avoid the media-fuelled drama that has surrounded key players’ futures all season.

Van Dijk, now 33, has anchored Liverpool’s defence since arriving in 2018 and remains pivotal to the squad’s structure. His renewal would allow the club to shelve plans for sourcing a new top-tier centre-back—an expensive and complex task, especially in a summer already loaded with priorities.

Should Van Dijk have left, Liverpool’s recruitment team had prepared to act. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi and Bournemouth loanee Dean Huijsen had both been assessed, with a focus on left-footed or left-sided central defenders.

While that contingency plan may now remain untouched, Ibrahima Konaté’s contract enters its final year this summer. Talks on his future are yet to yield a breakthrough, leaving Liverpool with at least one defensive decision to make in the coming months.

Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah’s roles also remain uncertain, but with Van Dijk staying, Liverpool can afford to take a more measured approach.

Meanwhile, Salah’s contribution this season has been nothing short of spectacular. At 32, he has amassed 54 goal involvements—32 goals and 22 assists—underlining his enduring class and importance to the team.

His contract breakthrough also signals a likely end to Saudi Arabia’s attempts to lure him away. Sources within the Saudi Pro League had remained optimistic about their chances until recently, but with Liverpool edging closer to a renewal, those hopes are fading fast.

Having largely avoided big spending last summer, Liverpool are expected to be active in the upcoming window. A central striker sits atop their wishlist, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak admired but deemed unlikely to leave St James’ Park. The club are also in the market for at least one full-back.

The uncertainty surrounding Alexander-Arnold, coupled with lingering doubts over Andy Robertson’s long-term role under Slot, has prompted Liverpool to look at Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson as possible options.

But for now, all eyes are on Anfield’s biggest names. With Salah and Van Dijk both on the brink of recommitting their futures to the club, Liverpool fans may soon have cause for celebration on and off the pitch.