Virgil van Dijk

[Doc_Piptorious]

There is a lot of talk on that, supposedly offered a €100m package for 2 years

Meant to have been offered that (the 100m including bonuses and a 20m signing on fee) and then refused it.


Rumour is that a third year is wanted along with wages closer to what PSG are supposedly offering ( PSG package is meant to be in the €60m to €65m per year including bonuses etc)



Could all be bullcrap of course but contracts being offered to all thgree has never been denied and usually when Salah or VVD (or one of their reps) make a comment it is something along the lines of discussions are ongoing or some other phrase that suggest offers were made and not accepted.

[Kenneth]

These contract demands must be getting to the point where signing would destabilise the financial position of the club. Let them all go, get back to recruiting incredible undervalued players perfect for a system and build us back up to the top again. If it means some short term pain then so be it.

[danperkins]

These contract demands must be getting to the point where signing would destabilise the financial position of the club. Let them all go, get back to recruiting incredible undervalued players perfect for a system and build us back up to the top again. If it means some short term pain then so be it.

imo that is exactly what will happen, short term pain for long term gain. Transition year next season maybe but so be it.

[Norbs]

There is a lot of talk on that, supposedly offered a €100m package for 2 years

€1m a week? That's ludicrous

[Sus]

€1m a week? That's ludicrous

Would include the sign on fee as well

[kemm1]

PSG bound?

These contract shenigans aren't exactly helping anyone right now. He's the captain and he's refusing to commit. Not a great message for his team mates.

I'll wait to hear the details and facts, but if this was sorted much earlier all this speculation wouldn't even be a thing.

[Charly]

IF he did go, who becomes captain?

Robertson would have been my choice, but he shouldnt be first choice. Nobody else really sticks out for me

[Buzzo]

IF he did go, who becomes captain?

Robertson would have been my choice, but he shouldnt be first choice. Nobody else really sticks out for me

Salah… oh wait.

Trent… oh wait.

Allison… ah ****.

Err… Macca?

Am sure this is all part of the brinkmanship but it could be a massive distraction and no matter what anyone says has to affect focus. Fingers crossed we have done enough that it doesn’t matter.

And that there are some signs that at least one or two of them signs.

[Charly]

Macca might be the obvious choice, by default if there being few others left.

Maybe Konate, although he seems very quiet. Grav is maybe too young Dom... maybe.

Not a fan of goalies, although Ali probably deserves it

Remember after Klopp had been there for a few years, we had half a dozen captains in the team. Seems like a lifetime away now. Maybe we need to adapt our transfer policy if nobody signs.

[Norbs]

Salah… oh wait.

Trent… oh wait.

Allison… ah ****.

Err… Macca?

Am sure this is all part of the brinkmanship but it could be a massive distraction and no matter what anyone says has to affect focus. Fingers crossed we have done enough that it doesn’t matter.

And that there are some signs that at least one or two of them signs.

The league isn't won, I'm getting pretty nervous about it now

[Doc_Piptorious]

Macca might be the obvious choice, by default if there being few others left.

Maybe Konate, although he seems very quiet. Grav is maybe too young Dom... maybe.

Not a fan of goalies, although Ali probably deserves it

Remember after Klopp had been there for a few years, we had half a dozen captains in the team. Seems like a lifetime away now. Maybe we need to adapt our transfer policy if nobody signs.

MacAllister might be a good choice.


Alisson would be a great choice in terms of character imo, but personally you want your captain to be an outfield player for ease of being able to talk to the ref.


Jones I suspect would be a very good captain, but injuries might be the issue as you want your captain available more often than not.


Gravenberch might be one for the future. Think he he maintains this season's form into next season and beyond that his experience and confidence will see him grow into being a "senior" player at a young age.


Konate is actually a bit of a talker on the pitch. Has a bit of a blend of leading by example in there too.

Szobozlai captains his country.


Plus as you hinted at yourself towards the end of your post, we might well bring in guys who, whilst not wearing the armband, will quickly become on pitch (and behind the scene) leaders.

[Buzzo]

The league isn't won, I'm getting pretty nervous about it now

Arsenal need to claim a 12 point swing (13 with GD) on us out of 27 available. They’ve also got to manage CL games v Real.

We’ve only lost once in the League all season (which is apparently average).

I won’t say it til it’s done. But it’s pretty close.

[Doc_Piptorious]

Arsenal need to claim a 12 point swing (13 with GD) on us out of 27 available. They’ve also got to manage CL games v Real.

We’ve only lost once in the League all season (which is apparently average).

I won’t say it til it’s done. But it’s pretty close.

Yeah Arsenal are pretty much at the point where they need to win every game they have left whilst also needing us to lost close to half our remaining games.


Every single round of games that we match them for points in has to be dejecting for them.

A few months ago the talk was that a five point lead would not be enough, then a seven point one was not going to be enough and all we have done since is just keep increasing the lead we have.

Hell at this stage is Arsenal finish the season "only" three to five points behind us they will have done well but ultimately not been good enough.

[DerKrampus]

I think losing VVD would be the biggest blow - he's rock solid, has high availability, and defence is a position you can play into your mid-late thirties if you're good enough.

[Charly]

I can see us struggling to finish top 4 without Van Dijk. Slot would have such a job to do.

Konate and Gomez are injured a lot. Van Dijk is almost always fit. We would need to bring in two players to replace him. PLus a new RB and LB. It could take a while to get the defence to mesh.

Also a new DM to replace Endo. Alison is injured every season so we have the new guy who aint been doing too well apparently.

Thats ignoring the work we need to do up front (I feel that is something that might have to wait a year).

That even ignores the question, who the **** comes in to replace him?

Out of all the defenders we have had the past 30 years, we have a had a lot of ****e, but the best ones were average in the air, or slow, or injured. That perfect defender can be ellusive. Thats ignoring the fact Virgil can play really well too (that would be secondary at this point).