Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk reacts to headline Man City transfer news
Virgil van Dijk was as imposing and brilliant as ever for Liverpool last season.
The Dutchman failed to start in just one league game as Arne Slot’s men raced to the Premier League title with unexpected ease.
As ever, Van Dijk was at the heart of everything good about the Reds, and he was rewarded for his efforts with a new contract in the latter stages of the campaign.
Now 33, he is surely nearing the twilight of his career, but he will remain at the forefront of Slot’s thinking as he heads into his ninth full season at Anfield next term.
Van Dijk reacts as De Bruyne joins Napoli
It’s now been a whole decade since Van Dijk first made the switch south of the border, and in that time he has taken on several of the biggest Premier League stars of a generation.
One man who he will surely not miss going up against is Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian moved to Manchester City in the same summer that Van Dijk first came into English football, and the pair have enjoyed countless duels over the years while their respective clubs competed for titles.
However, De Bruyne has moved on after 10 years terrorising defences for City, with the 33-year-old having recently been announced as a Napoli player.
He posted a message on Instagram saying, “I am here” on Thursday (12 June) after arriving in Italy, and the Liverpool skipper responded by liking the post.
Van Dijk will be crucial once again next season
Van Dijk will be crucial once again for his side next season, despite the fact that it is beginning to feel as though the defender has already achieved everything in club football.
Liverpool are expected to have a fairly busy summer in the transfer market, with Slot and the club hierarchy well aware that after a relatively comfortable title win, their competitors will be working harder than ever to close the gap next term.
The Reds won’t want to stand still in the market, and are pursuing major deals for the likes of Florian Wirtz and Milos Kerkez.
Van Dijk will be hugely important when it comes to integrating any potential new signings into the squad and ensuring they are aware of what it takes to be a Liverpool player.
The L4 outfit have lost a key figure in the squad in Trent Alexander-Arnold, so the skipper may have a bigger role than ever to help maintain their tight-knit unit.