Virgil van Dijk: 'I will go somewhere else' if Liverpool contract is not extended
Virgil van Dijk has said he is "not in any panic" over his Liverpool future despite no progress over a new contract.
The Liverpool captain's deal runs out at the end of June, and he spoke after the win over Crystal Palace. Van Dijk last committed to the club in April 2025, when a two-year agreement ended previous uncertainty over his future.
The Athletic reports that talks are expected over the coming weeks and months, with the 35-year-old yet to decide whether this will be his last season at the club.
Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool's Premier League campaign so far, partnering new signing Jeremy Jacquet at centre-back.
His situation is not the only open question in defence: Joe Gomez is also out of contract in June, while Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Elsewhere, Liverpool signed Ronald Araujo on loan from Barcelona in the summer and have a £47m purchase option in that deal.
The Dutchman has been carrying a knock in recent weeks and has withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for the Nations League matches against Greece and Germany.
"Mentally I'm in a good place, physically I've been struggling with a little niggle the last couple of weeks but I do everything in my power to be out there," he said.
Van Dijk also assessed the team's progress under new head coach Andoni Iraola: "It's a work in progress. Some games we could have done much better ... And some games we lost but we were good. We're trying to find consistency as that's the only way to be successful."
'There's nothing to report at the moment'
Asked about his contract, Van Dijk made clear he intends to carry on playing, whether at Liverpool or elsewhere.
"I want to keep playing and continue what I'm doing so let's see what the season brings," he said.
"I've had an amazing time already so far. If that will be extended, that's the case. If not, then I will go somewhere else. There's nothing to report at the moment but that doesn't mean that there's any stress or anything. I feel good but it's not about me at the moment. I'm not in any panic whatsoever."
