What claims about Liverpool ‘breaking the bank’ for Virgil van Dijk’s contract really signify

Liverpool are expected to “break open the bank’s safe” to secure a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, according to a journalist from his home country, the Netherlands.

Although this has been interpreted by some as a major update on Van Dijk’s future, the suggestion that Liverpool is close to agreeing on a new deal with their captain seems to be off the mark.

Nonetheless, there is a prevailing belief in the Netherlands that the 33-year-old will soon sign a lucrative extension with Liverpool.

Marcel van der Kraan, a journalist for De Telegraaf, made this remark as part of a broader article on the growth of Dutch football, where he also discussed the influence of figures like Arne Slot and other Dutch players.

“Cody Gakpo, Ryan Gravenberch and Virgil van Dijk really started here in the Eredivisie. We didn’t realise then that they would become world stars,” Van der Kraan noted.

“The first is, according to the latest valuation in the New Year, a player worth more than €100 million. The second is heading in that direction and for Van Dijk they will break open the bank’s safe one of these days to extend him at Liverpool once again.”

Despite the buzz on platforms like X, this statement should not be seen as confirmation that a deal is imminent.

It is more an opinion than a fact, though one that reflects the general optimism surrounding Van Dijk’s ongoing talks with Liverpool.

The Netherlands captain has remained tight-lipped about his negotiations with the club but, like Mohamed Salah, has made it clear that there have been no significant developments so far.

Van der Kraan’s remarks align with the broader belief that Van Dijk is not only the most likely player to stay but also the most likely to finalize a deal first.

The idea of ‘breaking the bank’ is understandable; Van Dijk, despite his age, is unlikely to accept a pay cut at this stage in his career, confident that he can perform at a top level into his late 30s.

Currently earning around £220,000 per week, Liverpool will need to commit a substantial amount to keep hold of one of the greatest defenders in the club’s history.

Regarding this latest report, it is more of an extension of widely held beliefs than a fresh update.