Arne Slot made private phone call to Virgil van Dijk as transfer rumors swirl

New Liverpool FC manager Arne Slot made his first phone call on Merseyside to compatriot Virgil van Dijk, among the biggest sources of anxiety for Reds fans this offseason.

The Dutch centre-back has just one year remaining on his contract and, after six phenomenal seasons at Anfield, is reportedly a top target for clubs in the ultra-wealthy Saudi Pro League. But Slot admitted he's already spoken to the inspirational captain in his first interview as Liverpool manager.

"I've reached out to a few of them [players] – all of them after Jürgen [Klopp] left — because I thought that was really important to be fair to Jürgen and be fair to the players," Slot said on Wednesday.

"Because they had to end the season and I don't think I would be really happy if my successor would have called players before I left the club. Then I think it's normal to start with the captain, which is Virgil, which is an easy one for me because we could speak Dutch!"

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As Slot notes, Van Dijk was born and raised in the Dutch city of Breda, earning his professional breakthrough with Eredivisie club Groningen at 20 years old. The towering 6'5 defender earned his first move to Great Britain with Scottish giants Celtic, and after entering the Premier League with Southampton, the Reds paid £75 million, then a world-record transfer fee for a defender, to acquire Van Dijk's services.

He quickly turned Liverpool's expenditure into a relative bargain, leading the club to Champions League glory during his second season — van Dijk was desperately close to winning the 2019 Ballon d'Or as well — and securing the Reds' first-ever Premier League title the following campaign. However, as Van Dijk nears a contract year, the Dutchman was non-commital this past season about continuing his sterling Liverpool legacy.

“Listen, I don’t know. The club will have a big job on their hands, that is well known," van Dijk said. To replace the manager and replace not only the manager, the staff is leaving, and there are so many things that will change. So the club has a big job on its hands and I am very curious which direction that will go in. But when that will be announced we will see our situation, I can’t say now.”

Slot also called a few unspecified Reds after ringing Van Dijk, opting against contacting the complete Liverpool squad due to active international commitments. Along with the star LFC centre-back, nine Liverpool players are involved in this summer's Euro 2024: Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch, Ibrahima Konate, Vitezslav Jaros and Diogo Jota. Four Reds will compete in Copa America as well, those being Alisson, Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Darwin Nunez.

"And from there on I called a few others, but not many of them because most of them are in preparation, or at this moment playing, at the Euros, and some others are in preparation at the Copa America," Slot said. "So I think the best way is to keep a certain distance but also be interested in them as well. And hoping that most of them – especially the Dutch! – will still be as long as possible away so they will reach the final."