Virgil van Dijk has outlined his future career plans with a major update amid uncertainty over the Liverpool captain extending his stay at the club.
The 33-year-old has just entered the final year of his Liverpool contract and talks have been ongoing as the Reds look to secure his immediate future.
Van Dijk will be free to speak with other European clubs in January meaning the race is on for the Reds to commit their skipper to a new deal or face losing him for free next summer.
Plenty of top clubs would likely be interested in tempting Van Dijk away from Anfield and the world class centre-back has now providing an update on his current situation.
In the wake of producing another dominant performance as the Netherlands beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-2 in their UEFA Nations League clash, Van Dijk revealed his two-year plan for success.
Virgil van Dijk has outlined his future career plans amid uncertainty over the Liverpool captain extending his stay at the club
Van Dijk has entered the final year of his Liverpool contract with negotiations ongoing
Reds boss Arne Slot is likely hoping Van Dijk will pen a new deal at Liverpool to extend his stay
‘At both teams [Netherlands and Liverpool] I am still Virgil van Dijk, the big leader!’ he said.
‘And I certainly want to remain that for the next two years. I am human, I have emotions too. You start thinking all kinds of things. Especially just after a game like the elimination (by England) in the very last minute.
‘I also understand that it came across unclear on how I stood in all this, because after the match I was so disappointed and full of emotion.
‘It perhaps came across as if it had been my last international match. I did have doubts that night and I did hint at that.
‘It’s very good that I went on holiday the next day, was able to spend time with my children, my family, which is the most important thing in my life. I was able to share it and then very quickly things calmed down,’ he added.
Van Dijk is expected to be involved against Germany on Tuesday evening before returning to the Liverpool for the resumption of the new Premier League season.
Arne Slot’s side remain unbeaten after three games and kept their 100 per cent winning start alive by beating rivals Man United at Old Trafford in the last match before the international break.