Former Everton boss Ronald Koeman is playing a key role in keeping Virgil van Dijk at Liverpool.
Koeman, now coach of Holland, visited the Reds’ captain at his home just outside Manchester at the start of the season to urge him not to follow up on his threat of calling time on his international career following the disappointment of the Euro 2024 semi-final defeat at the hands of England.
He wants Van Dijk to lead Oranje into the 2026 World Cup finals. Koeman has warned all the players in his squad that they will only be considered for selection if they are playing at the top level - and he believes there is no better league in the world than the Premier League.
Van Dijk is out of contract at the end of the season and there has already been big interest in the 33-year-old from the Saudi Pro League. The Dutchman could follow best mate Gini Wijnaldum to the desert to earn a bank-busting fortune.
But Wijnaldum has paid the price by losing his place in Holland’s squad, while former Spurs winger Steven Bergwijn has also been axed after moving to the Middle East and ex- Manchester United striker Memphis Depay has lost out after opting to move to Brazilian club Corinthians.
The belief in Holland is that Van Dijk will not risk the same fate and is keen to hammer out a compromise that will keep him at Liverpool. Koeman explained: “The book is basically closed to Bergwijn. He knows what I think about playing in these sort of leagues. When you are 26, your main ambition should be sporting, not financial. These are choices that players make.”
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The Dutch boss watched Wijnaldum in action for Steven Gerrard at El-Ettifaq - and was not impressed with the standard of football. He does not envisage a similar issue with Van Dijk. Koeman said: “I thought it was so important to go to him to Virgil to understand his real feelings.
“I wanted to know if he was going to give it his all for another two years at the highest level and if he still saw a future for himself. He does - and I feel the same with him. All doubt is gone. He just goes on.”
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