Real Madrid respond to Van Dijk transfer link amid Liverpool contract stand-off

Real Madrid will NOT be signing Virgil van Dijk if he leaves Liverpool as a free agent.

Van Dijk, 33, is coming to end of his deal at Anfield, enabling him to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club. The Liverpool captain isn't alone, as team-mates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah have also entered the final sixth months of their respective contracts.

Reports from Spain this week claimed that Van Dijk's agent had offered his services to Real Madrid, who made a controversial New Year's bid for Alexander-Arnold. But the Champions League holders were said to have turned down the opportunity, with their focus elsewhere.

Now an official spokesperson for Real Madrid has told 365scores: "The talk about Real Madrid's desire to sign Liverpool player Van Dijk is incorrect.

"Van Dijk is not part of our contractual plans and we have not sent an official offer to Liverpool regarding negotiations with Van Dijk. The player has not been offered to our club by the player's agents, and if that happens, it will be announced through our official team channels."

Although Van Dijk has previously gone on record to say that he'd like to renew his deal at Liverpool, the defender revealed after Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United: "I don't think [there will be an update soon] but I am calm about it, like I said months ago. We'll see what happens in the future and at this point I have absolutely no update.

"It's all about at the moment focusing, for me and the team, on Spurs [on Wednesday]. It will be a tough game again, but a good [Carabao Cup] semi-final."

Van Dijk's future has been the least talked-about of Liverpool's out-of-contract trio, with Alexander-Arnold's situation being thrust into the spotlight ahead of the United game. "I am fine with [speculation]," Van Dijk added.

"Trent has his own people around him, his family and we are there as well. He wants to perform in the best way possible like we all do. That is the main focus. In my opinion, maybe ask him, that is the distraction… the game."

Van Dijk was praised by Liveprool legend Jamie Carragher on Monday for his statesman-like approach whenever he's been asked about his future. Salah has been outspoken about negotiations while Carragher believes that Alexander-Arnold's camp had given Real Madrid the green light to make a bid.

"I would say Virgil van Dijk has come out of this whole situation this season, as the captain of the club, in a higher esteem," Carragher told Sky Sports. "The way he's conducted himself, his performances on the pitch, the way he's led the team, the way he was yesterday as well, and he hasn't got involved in too much around this.

"It's obviously a really important time for all three players, we know that, but I think rather than speak about Trent Alexander-Arnold or Mo Salah, I'd probably like to pay tribute to Virgil van Dijk. I think he's come across as a real statesman with the way he's handled it.

"He's been asked questions, he's knocked it away, he's here to win the league, he wants to do his utmost for Liverpool, and fingers crossed he signs. I think the other two could maybe look at Virgil van Dijk and take a leaf out of his book."