Ornstein: Van Dijk contract extension unlikely before next spring, he is keen to stay at Liverpool

David Ornstein: To my knowledge, currently Liverpool and Van Dijk have not yet held negotiations. I don't think it should come as a surprise that there's no movement at this stage. Liverpool have always preferred to handle these matters quietly, trying not to disclose anything externally until everything is settled.

The last time Van Dijk's contract was on the agenda, Liverpool were also discussing the future of Mohamed Salah, whose deal at the time ran until 2025. Neither situation was resolved until around April. Van Dijk's age (he turns 35 this July) and the salary on his current contract will be factors Liverpool consider this time. We know that Liverpool's owners are generally cautious about offering contracts to players over 30, but they have made exceptions for Van Dijk and Salah in the past.

Liverpool's previous renewals for the two players have yielded different results: the decision to renew Van Dijk has been vindicated, while the one for Salah has been less satisfactory, as he is departing just one year into that two-year contract.