The latest Liverpool transfer news - Real Madrid drops interest in Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk. His contract ends in 2025 with Liverpool.
Real Madrid have reportedly decided against pursuing Virgil van Dijk in the summer of 2025. Instead, they are only interested in signing Trent Alexander-Arnold according to Marca. This development has raised questions about the future of two of Liverpool’s most valuable players.
While Liverpool continues to perform brilliantly, the potential departures of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold could impact their long-term success. Liverpool, currently at the top of the Premier League, have enjoyed a great start to the season.
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The team has also topped the Champions League table. Under manager Arne Slot, Liverpool have won 22 of their 26 matches, with only one loss. Despite these achievements, Liverpool are concerned about losing key players on free transfers at the end of the season.
Real Madrid drops interest in Liverpool defender that Arne Slot wants to keep
Virgil van Dijk has been a crucial part of Liverpool's strong defensive record this season. Alongside Ibrahima Konate, van Dijk has helped Liverpool keep seven clean sheets in the Premier League and concede just 17 goals.
This is the second-fewest goals allowed by any team in the top flight. His aerial ability is also impressive, with a 73.6% win rate in aerial duels, ranking him fifth in the league. At 33 years old, van Dijk is not the youngest centre-back.
However, his intelligence and experience allow him to play at a high level. His top speed of 34.9 km/h in the Champions League shows that he still has the pace to compete with the best. Although he uses speed only as a last resort, van Dijk’s ability to read the game suggests he could continue performing at the highest level for years to come.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is considered one of the best right-backs in the world, and his skill set is unmatched by any other full-back. At 26, Alexander-Arnold is approaching his prime years, making him a priority for Liverpool in terms of contract extensions. His potential future role as Liverpool’s captain is also an attractive prospect, as he is a boyhood fan of the club.
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While Mohamed Salah has been outstanding this season, scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists in the Premier League, and van Dijk remains one of the most complete centre-backs in the world, losing Alexander-Arnold would be a significant blow for Liverpool. Although Salah and van Dijk are key players, securing Alexander-Arnold’s future at the club could be seen as the top priority for Liverpool.