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Chelsea explored the possibility of signing Virgil van Dijk on a free transfer at the end of the season before the Dutchman committed his future to Liverpool.

It was announced earlier this week that Van Dijk had signed a new deal to keep him at Anfield until 2027, ending months of speculation surrounding his future.

The deal is believed to preserve the 33-year-old's standing as the highest-paid defender in Europe, as he will reportedly continue to earn £400,000 ($529,000) per week.

Upon signing his new deal at Anfield, Van Dijk told club media: "It always felt right.

It is the place for me to be, to spend my best years, be successful with the club as we have been over the years and hopefully the future as well.

And I love the city, I love the club, I love the fans.

The Mail reports that Chelsea considered a move for Van Dijk but that the Stamford Bridge club got the feeling that the player was always likely to extend his contract with Liverpool.

Paris Saint-Germain was also linked with the former Southampton man — speculation that intensified after Van Dijk was filmed speaking to PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the bowels of Anfield last month — but it sounds as though there was never any real possibility that Van Dijk would do anything other than sign a renewal on Merseyside.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot addressed Van Dijk's new contract for the first time during a press conference on Friday ahead of the Reds' Premier League game against Leicester this weekend.

"I'm really happy that both [Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah] have extended
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