Real Madrid are interested in signing 28-year-old center-back Virgil Van Dyk from Liverpool.
The Dutch international is coming off a remarkable year, winning the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award for leading Liverpool to a Champions League title. Van Dijk is also up for the Ballon d'Or — he'd be the first defender to win the distinguished award since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
According to Calcio Mercato journalist Nicolo Shira, the Reds are keen to keep their star player.
#Liverpool want to close Virgil #VanDijk's renew until 2025. Reds are in talks with his agent and have offered a new wages of €12,5M a year plus bonuses. #RealMadrid is interested in him, but Van Dijk is not considering to leave. #transfers #LFC
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) September 9, 2019
Van Dijk is also contracted in Anfield until 2024 after signing a mammoth deal in January 2018 on a £75m transfer fee. He earns a reported £125,000 per week.
Rumors circulated over the weekend that Liverpool were working on an agreement to increase Virgil's wages to £200,000 a week. However, the Liverpool Echo refuted the offer and Virgil's so-called displeasure with his current deal.
Van Dijk felt ‘bemused' by the speculation that he was pushing for pay rise given the £80million record-signing of his counterpart Harry Maguire for Manchester United.
Virgil said earlier this season, “I think the future looks pretty bright. We have a fantastic team with players that want to develop, that want to give everything for the team and for the club.”
“There is so much quality in the team; sometimes you don't even realize how good a group of players we have—and also on the bench that want to play and be part of the team. So we have a fantastic future coming up.”
So Liverpool fans can rest up as Virgil is staying put at Merseyside, for now.
