Liverpool fans are about to find out why Virgil van Dijk has not yet been offered a new contract
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As the first – and technically second – international breaks of the new season come towards an end, it might be time for Liverpool to start the conversation around Virgil van Dijk’s future.The 35-year-old has once again entered the final year of his agreement with the Reds, and despite his advancing age, he has shown no signs of becoming less important to Liverpool under Andoni Iraola. Van Dijk has played every minute in the Premier League and Champions League so far, and the thought of Liverpool being without him continues to be unthinkable.Nevertheless, there is obviously a chance that Van Dijk does depart when his contract finishes at the end of the season, and while fans will be dreading that thought, the return to fitness of Giovanni Leoni later this month should go some way to showing why Liverpool think they already have the right succession plan in place.
Liverpool DP Liverpool fans to see Jacquet/Leoni partnership in actionAfter Liverpool missed out on signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in September 2025, there was real concern over the future of their centre-back situation.Ibrahima Konate was about to play his last season as a Liverpool player, and with Joe Gomez still as injury-prone as ever, the Reds really needed some clarity on what would happen next.Jeremy Jacquet has provided that and then some. Michael Owen believes Jacquet is Van Dijk’s natural successor, and though it is early days, things are definitely moving in that direction.The Frenchman still needs someone to play alongside him, though, and with Gomez probably leaving at the end of the season and Ronald Araujo unlikely to be bought permanently despite some stellar displays, the hope lies with Leoni.READ MORE: Jeremy Jacquet earns more respect from French national media after ‘audacious’ moment vs ItalyNews has arrived during the international break that Leoni will finally return to team training on October 12th, well over one year since he first sustained his knee injury last September.
Although he will not play immediately, it therefore will not be long until the Italian is on the pitch again for Liverpool.Reports have claimed that Liverpool believe Jacquet and Leoni to be elite talents at centre-back, and it is fair to assume that the Reds have designs on the pair being their starting duo once Van Dijk has gone.Leoni’s injury has thrown a bit of a spanner in that plan, given that he is unlikely to be at his best for a little while, meaning Liverpool may not be able to accurately predict whether he is ready to take on a starting role next season.However, there is plenty of football to be played this term. Talks are seemingly yet to begin over a contract extension, and if Leoni is in form and has shown his quality next to Jacquet when they finally do, Liverpool might decide that rather than giving their captain another big new deal, they will put faith in the new young pair instead.When will Leoni finally play?It is worth saying that Leoni’s return from injury could also help Van Dijk’s cause to get a new contract.