Liverpool's contract stance on first-team regular revealed

Liverpool's contract stance on first-team regular revealed Julian Ward has become Liverpool’s sporting director during a period of transition for the club. Usually the sporting director is the one responsible for overseeing and leading a club’s transitions, with the idea being that they stay in place across multiple seasons, even when there are managerial changes. This hasn’t been the case at Liverpool though, and the Reds are on their fifth sporting director in just over six years. That number includes both of Ward’s spells, and the Englishman must now decide the club’s direction for the next few years. Planning is already underway for the winter window, but there is one key decision Ward can make before the New Year rolls around. Contract decision to be made on Liverpool legend One of the first problems Ward will be looking at addressing is the current contract crisis at Anfield. Alisson Becker, Virgil van Dijk , Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas and Wataru Endo are all out of contract at the end of the season and Alexis Mac Allister is fuelling speculation that he will push for a move away if he isn’t offered a new deal soon. That’s a lot of work for Ward to do, but there is one star that is reportedly heading in the right direction to extend his stay in Merseyside. Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign this season and has formed an incredibly impressive partnership with Jeremey Jacquet, which has led to discussion over his future. At 35-years-old the Dutchman should be in the twilight of his career, but on current form he is still one of the best defenders in the world. Now, according to a report from Football Insider , the Reds are refusing to rule out offering their captain a new deal to see him stay at Anfield beyond the summer of 2027. A decision doesn’t appear imminent, but if the defender continues to be as crucial as he has been early in Andoni Iraola’s tenure then he is in line for an extension. Liverpool will have to replace their colossus at some point, but they may still have another year of the world’s best defender to enjoy.