Jurgen Klopp's two-word warning about the Saudi Pro League's financial power could ring true for Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk.
At the start of what would become Klopp's final campaign, the German had to rebuild his midfield after both club captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were swayed to Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad. At the time, Klopp warned Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League that many players would not be able to turn down the lucrative millions in Saudi Arabia.
Klopp may be gone from Liverpool, but the Saudi Pro League could be set to poach another player from the Merseysiders. It's been reported that the division wants to bring Van Dijk to Al Hilal.
The situation for Arne Slot's side is particularly perilous as Van Dijk's contract expires in the summer. Considering this situation, the club may recall Klopp's two-word warning.
While looking back on Henderson and Fabinho's moves, the German boss admitted the club had "no chance" of holding onto them once the audacious Saudi wages were pitched. While also referring to Roberto Firmino, who moved to Saudi side Al-Ahli when Liverpool released him, Klopp said: "It was a special situation for us.
"Bobby's [Firmino] contract has expired. Of course, he can go and do whatever he wants. He just made his choice, and that's perfectly fine. When Hendo and Fabinho then sat in my office and talked to me about it, I knew when I found out more about the conditions that we had practically no chance of taking action against it.
"The financial conditions in this league are absolutely exceptional. I would say there are almost no limits. Anyone who can sign Cristiano Ronaldo and pay him for it definitely has no limits anymore."
Reports from talkSPORT claim Van Dijk is of interest to the Saudis. If he were to move, he would face former team-mates Fabinho, Firmino, Georginio Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane, who signed for Al-Nassr shortly after leaving Bayern Munich.
The Reds' captain, who joined Liverpool in 2018 from Southampton for £75m, in a then-record transfer fee for a defender, admitted he is still undecided on his future. "I have no idea at the moment. Genuinely, I still have no idea," Van Dijk said recently. "It is not on hold. Nothing on hold."
"There are 10 games to go and that is my full focus. If there is news you guys will know it. I don't even know myself. Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes but that is about it. At the moment I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face."
Van Dijk was asked about his future after Paris Saint-Germain knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League on penalties. Despite the disappointment of their Round of 16 exit, the Reds look set to win the Premier League, having opened a 15-point gap on second-placedArsenal.
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