Arsenal defender William Saliba says he is keen to follow in the footsteps of Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman has earned a reputation in the Premier League for intimidating opposing forwards with his presence on the pitch, and Saliba believes he can emulate the Dutchman:
“Van Dijk has aura. He’s the boss. He commands everything. You can feel he’s scaring strikers away. And I’m starting to feel the same way.”
There is no doubt that Saliba plays in a similar manner to van Dijk. He is pretty laidback but produces the goods when called upon.
The Frenchman’s performances over the last two seasons have been outstanding but, as he says himself, there is still some way to go before he can match van Dijk’s authority as a defender.
Will the Liverpool captain leave Anfield next summer?
At the moment, van Dijk’s contract with the Reds expires in 2025, and there have been no reports that an extension has been offered to the player.
When asked about the situation recently, the Liverpool captain was not particularly bothered by the uncertainty, stating that the change of manager has affected the timing of talks:
“I think the club is very much busy with who is going to be the new manager and that is the main focus. Like I said I am very happy here, I love the club and you can see that as well. It’s a big part of my life already, and that is all I can say.”
Are the club looking to replace van Dijk?
It is not believed that the Reds are seeking a successor in the short term but the Merseysiders will know that the Netherlands star has very few years left at his peak.
Reports suggest that the likes of Lille’s Leny Yoro, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Willian Pacho, Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie and Benfica’s Antonio Silva have been scouted.
