Dutch journalists have warned Virgil van Dijk about making a quick decision to move to Saudi Arabia in search of money.
Virgil van Dijk’s situation continues to gain momentum as a big decision beckons the Liverpool mainstay ahead of the summer. It’s a pivotal period in the career of the Dutch captain, who will solely be focused on helping his national side perform well at the Euros, but beyond that, there’s a big decision pending on his future.
The Liverpool mainstay cast doubts about his club’s future soon after Jurgen Klopp’s announcement to leave the Merseysiders became public. Van Dijk was one of the key performers for the club last season, although they fell short in every competition, barring the League Cup, which they won after beating Chelsea at Wembley.
The new boss, Arne Slot, certainly welcomes the idea of keeping Van Dijk and reportedly wants the club to hand a new contract to its key performer. However, Liverpool has put brakes on contract talks for the time being, as they are willing to take the risk of letting the Dutchman come close to the final six months of his deal before making a decision.
There’s big interest from Saudi Arabia in Van Dijk, and there’s a strong possibility, like with many other experienced Premier League stars, that the Dutchman might consider the riches of the Middle Eastern league and take on a new career challenge.
However, Dutch Journalists Valentijn Driessen and Jeroen Kapteijns via Sport Witness have urged caution towards Van Dijk making a swift decision about joining the Saudi League for money. They also highlighted the example of former teammate Jordan Henderson, as they strongly urge him to make a footballing decision rather than one clouded by finances.
Kapteijns said, “If he wants to have a few more zeros in the bank account, yes, but if he wants to continue playing football seriously, no.”
“The worst example in many ways is of course Jordan Henderson,“ added Driessen.
“That is of course the man who always made an effort for LGBTQ people, but once he saw those dollar signs appear in his eyes, he did not know how quickly he should go to Saudi Arabia.”
As things stand there are no active efforts from Liverpool to hand Van Dijk a new deal. The fans would certainly like the defender to stay here for a few more years, as the Dutchman appeared to have found his best form last season.
However, he could be one of the key players that Liverpool might consider selling for a big price, and such money can only come from the Saudi league. However, as the Dutch journalists suggested, Van Dijk might have to think hard about his next career decision and prioritise football over money.
