Virgil van Dijk spotted in discussion with PSG chiefs after Liverpool Champions League exit
Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League after losing on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, who'd levelled the round-of-16 second leg by winning in normal time at Anfield
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorLiverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was spotted talking to Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos after what could prove to be his final Champions League game for the club.
Van Dijk, 33, is yet to sign an extension on his current contract with the Reds which expires in June. The Dutch defender is in the same boat as team-mates Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who are also yet to commit their futures beyond this season.
All three players started Tuesday's Champions League round-of-16 second leg, as Liverpool lost 1-0 on the night after winning by the same scoreline in Paris last week. That meant that the game went to extra-time and penalties, and PSG won the shootout 4-1.
Gianluigi Donnarumma saved penalties from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones to send Luis Enrique's men into the quarter-finals, where they'll face Club Brugge or Aston Villa. Less than an hour after the shootout, Van Dijk was filmed by French outlet Foot Mercato having a conversation with club president Al-Khelaifi as well as transfer chief Campos in the Anfield tunnel.
That's sparked speculation that Van Dijk could join PSG this summer. The Netherlands international, who's free to negotiate with other clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement, has also been linked with a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot didn't want to discuss the futures of Van Dijk, Salah and Alexander-Arnold, having been asked about the trio post-match. "It is creative to come up with the contract situation," Slot replied. "That is the last thing I am thinking of. Liverpool showed themselves and hopefully they have more luck next year."
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A dejected Van Dijk also spoke after the match and told Prime Video Sport: "I think we were pretty good today as well, and you want to go as far as possible, but we knew when we drew PSG it was going to be very difficult. We saw in Paris when we struggled but we won, and today we saw a very good Liverpool side but we're out of the competition.
"Today from the first second and then extra time, when fatigue kicks in for both sides, it becomes more open but especially regular time, we showed a very good game. We can speak about the game for ages but we're out of the competition, that is the reality."
The 33-year-old will have the chance to lift the Carabao Cup on Sunday when Liverpool face Newcastle in the final at Wembley.
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