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Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring his team second goal during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and West Ham United at Anfield on April 13, 2025 (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk has given the biggest indication yet that a new contract will be made official this week as the club captain revealed Liverpool are "planning to make it a big summer" in the upcoming transfer window.

The Reds skipper is on the cusp of signing a new two-year deal to follow on from confirmation of Mohamed Salah's on Friday, which will take him up to 2027 as one of the highest-paid players at Anfield.

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Van Dijk provided the decisive contribution on Sunday as his late header was enough to ensure Arne Slot's Premier League leaders beat West Ham United 2-1 to go 13 points clear of Arsenal in second.



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It means the Reds now need just six points from the final 18 on offer to secure a second title in five years and a 20th overall and Slot's side could even be crowned champions on Sunday if they beat Leicester City and Arsenal lose at Ipswich Town.

Speaking after his match-winning header against the Hammers, Van Dijk hinted the club are gearing up for an important summer ahead of the new season, which he expects to be a part of with fresh terms now closer than ever.

"I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years," Van Dijk said.

But I think a proper pre-season would definitely help the club in order to be even more consistent than we already have been."

Van Dijk, who had moments earlier been involved in a mix-up with Andy Robertson for West Ham's equaliser, kissed the badge in front of the Kop after his goal, which was seen as further proof of his commitment to the club he joined from Southampton for a record £75m in January 2018.

"I think it's the whole combination," said the Netherlands captain.

Reasons like how much it means to all the Scousers, to all the fans around the whole world to be connected to Liverpool.

"Being successful with Liverpool; the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool, that is just part of me.

"That's why I'm always proud when I wear that shirt, go out there and try to be the best version of myself in terms of the football player that I am.

I know what it means to the club and I know what it will bring us if it happens.

"Most of the players don't [win a Premier League title] so when it happens, it will be beautiful but we still have a job to do.

But going back to the fact that I love the club, that's pretty obvious.

"I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same."

Asked if there was any progress of his own to share after Salah put pen to paper on Friday morning, Van Dijk said: "Obviously I'm very happy for the club and all of us connected to the club.

Obviously we all saw the result yesterday that Arsenal had so obviously to drop points today would not be great for morale, not great for anyone connected to Liverpool, but we didn't, so we move up and that's the message.

"We wanted to stay on the pitch for the fans and thank them and that's what we did.
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