Arne Slot is going to have a mountain of problems to deal with when he enters the Liverpool building.
The Feyenoord manager hasn’t been announced yet as Liverpool’s next boss, but it has been well-documented that he is the man.
Many were hoping for a dream send-off for Jurgen Klopp and the possibility that he could depart with the Premier League title in hand.
But that simply isn’t going to happen now because the team have shot themselves in the foot during these past few weeks.
And in next to no time, everything seems to have turned on its head, with that Klopp-Mohamed Salah spat from the weekend hitting all the main headlines.
There has been a lot of talk about the transfer business Liverpool will conclude in the summer.
Most people seem to be talking about Salah and Saudi Arabia, and understandably so – his current contract expires in 2025.
But he isn’t the only Liverpool player whose deal expires in 18 months because you can also add Virgil van Dijk to that list.
In recent weeks, rumours have surfaced that Borussia Dortmund are possibly keen on signing the 32-year-old.
Described as a ‘shocking move’ by Fabrizio Romano, the transfer expert quickly debunked those claims.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano shared what Slot plans to do with his fellow countryman once he is announced.
Virgil van Dijk’s future at Liverpool
“Reports in Germany and Holland in the last few days saying that he could maybe go to Borussia Dortmund,” said Romano. “A shocking move to Borussia Dortmund. What I am hearing from sources is that this is not true.
“But Borussia Dortmund and Virgil van Dijk is not something real or concrete at this point. Contacts are not taking place, so Virgil van Dijk and Dortmund, at the moment, it’s something that’s not happening. New Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, will have a direct conversation with Virgil van Dijk. For sure, he will be involved in this project. Also, directly with the players and he will try to keep Virgil van Dijk at the club, obviously, it will depend on negotiations over a new deal.
“But Arne Slot, as a Dutch manager, with a Dutch leader and player like Virgil van Dijk, he will love to keep him at the club, so the conversation between them is going to be important.”
Virgil van Dijk and Arne Slot
Many people are talking about Liverpool’s lack of bite, ruthless nature and calmness in the final third.
It has all gone out of the window and cost them the title, but they have issues in defence as well.
READ MORE: Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk’s life outside of football from wife to tattoo and net worth
The Reds haven’t been helped with injuries, but you feel Slot is going to need van Dijk as much as Salah next season.
So, it’s paramount that he stays on board, especially given that Liverpool will be returning to the Champions League next season.