"Bodes well": Liverpool take gigantic step towards Alisson and Van Dijk contract renewals

"Bodes well": Liverpool take gigantic step towards Alisson and Van Dijk contract renewals Liverpool will soon have decisions to make over two of their most important players. Alisson Becker, 34, and Virgil van Dijk , 35, are out of contract at the end of the 2026/27 season. Alisson, the Reds’ long-serving goalkeeper, had a clause activated in his deal last summer which committed the Brazilian to another 12 months at Anfield. That was despite the presence of Juventus in talks for the shot-stopper - with Liverpool resisting the opportunity to sell Alisson to his former head coach Luciano Spalletti. Van Dijk meanwhile continues to go strong despite his advancing years. Linked with Real Madrid and Juventus in recent weeks the captain still has plenty to offer at the highest level. Earning around £400k per week the Dutchman remains one of the best around and it would currently be an error for the 2024/25 Premier League champions to let him leave for nothing. Julian Ward back in charge Nonetheless there appears to be a good sign on the horizon for those wishing to see Alisson and Van Dijk remain on Merseyside for another 12 months at least. Following the departure of Richard Hughes as sporting director Fenway Sports Group took the decision to re-appoint Julian Ward in the role. Ward - previously Technical Director with the Reds - moves back into the sporting director role he once occupied. And back in 2022 when it became time for Mohamed Salah to renew his contract it was Ward who jetted out to the Greek island of Mykonos to seal the deal. Ward sealed Salah deal According to a report in the Liverpool Echo this experience “bodes well” for upcoming talks between the club and their two seasoned stars. “Ward will be made to reach a decision over club captain Van Dijk and the long-serving Alisson Becker, who reiterated his own importance to the cause with a flawless performance against Bournemouth last time out,” the report reads. “Before any plans are thrashed out with his staff with regards to the January window, Ward needs to place Van Dijk and Alisson at the top of his to-do list. “The contract extension of Mohamed Salah on the Greek island of Mykonos in the summer of 2022 after a long, drawn-out process, is evidence that the new sporting director has experience of successfully handling such matters. “That bodes well.” LFC still need Van Dijk and Alisson Liverpool have signed goalkeepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Lucca Brughmans at considerable expense but right now still seem to be reliant on Alisson . In the case of Van Dijk the former Celtic star is one of those who needs to help bring the next generation through - including Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet. At the helm Liverpool have now got an exec who knows his way around high-wire contract renewals. Let’s see if this one works out for the Reds.