Virgil van Dijk speaks out on Liverpool transfer business and drops big hint about his future

Virgil van Dijk is delighted that Liverpool have signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus, and has dropped a fresh hint about his future. The Reds captain is out of contract next summer, and urged the club to bolster Arne Slot’s squad earlier this month.

"Obviously I think we should make some signings based on how long the season will go,” he admitted after Liverpool’s pre-season friendly win over Sevilla at the start of August.

“But I think they are working behind the scenes and I am fully convinced and trust the club that they will do the right thing for us and get the best possible squad in order to compete in every competition that we are in.”

The Reds were yet to add to Slot’s inherited ranks at the time, but during the final week of the transfer window they finalised deals for Chiesa from Juventus and Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia.

While the Georgia goalkeeper will remain with Valencia this season before linking up with Liverpool next summer after completing a transfer worth up to £29m, the Italy international trained with his new team-mates for the first time on Friday.

Slot has admitted that it would be a surprise if Chiesa made his Reds debut against Manchester United on Sunday, given the fact that he had been deemed surplus to requirements by Juventus and hasn’t played since Italy’s Euro 2024 exit at the end of June.

But even if Liverpool are to go to Old Trafford without the Italian, Van Dijk was impressed by the club’s acquisition of the forward following his earlier call for his new arrivals.

“I think in terms of the season being so long with so many games we definitely could use any quality addition that will be needed,” he said. “And to have Chiesa coming in is a very good signing, especially for the deal that has been done.

“We don’t need to forget that getting players is not as easy as everyone thinks. I know the club is doing a lot of hard work in trying to make deals and do the right thing.”

Van Dijk’s own long-term future at Anfield remains uncertain with the 33-year-old’s current contract set to expire next summer. He has admitted more than once in recent weeks that there had been no change in his situation.

It remains to be seen if the Dutchman will be offered fresh terms by Liverpool, never mind agreeing to them. But regardless of what the future holds, the defender insists he has plenty more years left in his career despite his status as the Reds’ oldest player.

“I feel very good personally, I feel like it is nowhere near the end so far,” he told the PA news agency at a McDonald’s Fun Football session. "There are plenty more years left and let’s see what happens.

“It is the one per cent which makes a difference in terms of looking after yourself and the work you do at home in terms of recovery and treatment, making sure you eat the right stuff, rest.

“That’s what I’ve been doing for so many years and that’s why I’ve been consistent in the amount of games I’ve been playing over the last couple of years.

“That’s maybe the most difficult thing nowadays in football: staying consistent and playing the amount of games and being available. Maybe that is sometimes taken for granted.

“I won’t say that’s the case with me, but more in general. After the international break we have double programmes every week (with the Champions League starting) and I kind of enjoy that because games are the most beautiful thing there is, especially when you play for a club like Liverpool.”