Virgil van Dijk responds to Liverpool future question in eight-word contract admission

Virgil van Dijk has refrained from disclosing how far discussions over his proposed new Liverpool contract have progressed. The defender confirmed last month that talks had begun - with his current deal set to expire in June.

Similarly to Mohamed Salah and England's Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Dutchman can speak to overseas clubs and even sign pre-contract agreements with them from New Year's Day. The ECHO understands Salah wishes to stay at Anfield in addition to van Dijk's representatives being locked in discussions.

However, the future of Alexander-Arnold is unclear, amid persistent speculation that Real Madrid hold an interest. Van Dijk's intentions are also not certain despite his status as captain and Liverpool's fantastic start to the Arne Slot era, which continued with a stunning 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night.

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The classy centre-back, who turns 34 next summer, has played every single minute of the club's Premier League and Champions League charges so far this season. Tuesday's 4-0 win over Leverkusen marked his and Liverpool's third straight European clean sheet.

His future becomes a more pertinent topic with each passing game and - after full-time at Anfield - the Dutchman was asked by Sky Sports whether there were any updates regarding renewal talks. "Nothing, nothing at all. There is no update," he replied.

Liverpool now sit top of the Champions League and Premier League tables having lost just one of their 16 matches under Slot. However, Van Dijk stressed that now is not the time to get carried away.

"Based on the results, we're doing very well, but I would definitely let others do the talking," he said in response to Xabi Alonso labelling the Reds one of the best sides in Europe. "There is no point in me making statements like this, because I know how it works in this world.

"We have to just keep going and I just want to win every game that's in front of us, like each and everyone of us in the dressing room. We know how difficult that is and so far, so good."