Van Dijk 'would love' Becker to stay but backs Liverpool to adapt
Apr 30, 2026
London [UK], April 30: Virgil van Dijk "would love" goalkeeper Alisson Becker to stay at Liverpool but insists the club will always adapt whenever they lose senior players.
Earlier this year Liverpool exercised the one-year extension option they had on the Brazil international's contract, which was due to expire in the summer, but that has not stopped speculation linking him with Juventus.
"Listen, there is always going to be a day where you - including myself - will go," said Van Dijk.
"But if it's going to happen - and I have no idea about it and I don't think at this point he has an idea about it - then we will, as a club, adapt to that.
"We have been through everything together, positive things and some negative things unfortunately as well, so it would definitely be a big blow and a miss but I don't think, for me, it's a good idea to think ahead about what could or could not happen.
"He's very important for me as one of the leaders in the team and I think he is very important on the pitch because I think he is one of the best - in my opinion the best - goalkeeper in the world.
"He's trying to be back as soon as possible to help us for the last four games and that's our main focus.
"Whatever happens after that is not something you should ask me.
Would I love him to stay? Of course, there's no doubt about that.
"There are rumours but if there is anything concrete then we will all find out but for me I'm never worried."
Alisson is currently working his way back to full fitness in an attempt to be ready for Sunday's trip to Manchester United having been sidelined by a second hamstring injury of the season in mid-March.
Absences have started to become more of an issue for the 33-year-old - he missed a combined total of 19 Premier League and Champions League games through either injury or illness in his first five seasons but in just under three campaigns since he has been out for 37 in both competitions.
Liverpool are already losing key senior figures this summer in Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
That would leave just Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones remaining from the Jürgen Klopp squad which won the Champions League and Premier League in back-to-back seasons and the latter pair are also being linked with summer departures.
Salah's situation offers some insight into why Alisson's short-term future may not be as assured as his contract extension suggests.
The Egypt international, the club's third-highest scorer and highest-paid player in their history, came to an agreement to terminate his contract at the end of the season despite him only signing a lucrative two-year deal 12 months ago.
He has struggled to reproduce the form of the title-winning campaign and his high-profile fall-out with head coach Arne Slot in December suggested all was not well with the 33-year-old.
Liverpool allowed him to leave without holding out for a fee but if they were to consider allowing Alisson to leave the club would demand a fee for the final year of his contract.
On Friday Slot said of Alisson's situation: "People who make these decisions take everything into account. They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club."
Source: Qatar Tribune