Former Republic of Ireland keeper Shay Given had an interesting discussion with Kenny Cunningham about the future of Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.
The Red's captain has made the least fuss in regards to his ongoing contract situation while his teammates Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have made a lot of headlines.
Speaking on Premier Sports however, Cunningham is not completely convinced that the Dutchman will be at Anfield next season, and could see him in sunny Spain in the near future.
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"It wouldn't surprise me if at the end of the year, he goes and pitches up at Barcelona. It wouldn't surprise me, but I hope he doesn't.
"The odds are that he won't, he's 34 years of age, I think 34 in the summer, it's a different position to Mo Salah at centre half, we know that you can play that area of the pitch, and the type of player he is (age) is not so much an issue.
"He is such a good reader of the game - I think a three year contract for whatever money it is, I would push for that three year contract.
"I think he will be in the team in three years time, but is there a temptation on his part, if Liverpool have the season that we are talking about, he thinks that this is the time to check out, and take a sideways step here.
"He could maybe go to Spain or wherever else, and I think it is a possibility, I don't think it would happen, but it wouldn't surprise me."
"It wouldn't surprise me at the end of the year if he goes and pitches up a Barcelona." 🗣️
"I think he could be there for the next few years." 🗣️
Kenny Cunningham believes Virgil van Dijk may be temped by a move to another league, but @No1shaygiven thinks otherwise 🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/dX5xpBXQyz
— Premier Sports Ireland (@PremSportsIRL) January 21, 2025
Given on the other hand, seemed pretty confident that the Liverpool skipper will be staying at Anfield, and he feels that a recent interview that he watched with the defender indicates that he will stay.
"Out of the three of them I would say that van Dijk is the one I would want to keep the most, if I'm brutally honest.
"He's not just a brilliant defender , he is a Rolls Royce of a defender, but he is also the biggest leader, he has the biggest voice, you see him in the huddle, he is the one given instructions.
"He is the one making demands on the pitch, he is the manager on the pitch, and I think it is difficult to replace that, it really is.
"I watched something a couple of weeks ago, and it was like 'who was the last Dutch captain to pick up the Premier League' and van Dijk was like, 'who was it?'
"It hadn't happened before, and van Dijk's face lit up, I think he could be another great for Liverpool and be there for the next few years."
Under van Dijk's captaincy, Liverpool have lifted the Carabao Cup, but the Netherlands international will be hoping that it won't be the only trophy lofted over his head in a red jersey.
