Liverpool pencil in contract talks with key player

Liverpool get their Premier League campaign underway when they travel to face newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday. 

The game will signal the start of a new era at Anfield, with Arne Slot taking charge of the Reds in a competitive game for the first time after succeeding Jurgen Klopp earlier this summer.

The Dutchman will hope to see his side challenge for trophies this term, although the Merseyside club are yet to make a single signing so far this transfer window.

Now, though, it appears that those in charge of Liverpool are planning contract talks with one of their most important players.

As per Football Insider, Liverpool bosses are likely to open contract negotiations with central defender Virgil van Dijk towards the end of this year.

The Netherlands international has been one of Liverpool’s most important players ever since joining the club from Southampton in January 2018.

Van Dijk is in the final year of his current contract

Van Dijk, 33, has played a total of 270 times for the Reds across all competitions and has lifted eight trophies including the Champions League, Premier League and two FA Cups.

His current contract is set to expire next summer, though, and the club are therefore keen to begin negotiations over a potential extension.

It is claimed that no talks have taken place so far as the Dutchman has only recently returned to Anfield after representing his country at the European Championships earlier this summer.

Last season, the centre-back played 48 times for Klopp’s side across all competitions, missing just two of their 38 Premier League games.

Liverpool are the only English top flight side that haven’t made a single signing so far this summer, and they have also lost central defender Joel Matip after the Cameroon international’s contract expired at the end of June.