The transfer Liverpool are going to make that won’t please Van Dijk regardless of West Ham win.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp may be leaning toward a summer transfer decision that Virgil van Dijk would not appreciate.
Despite scoring in Wednesday’s victory over West Ham, Joel Matip remains on the verge of leaving Anfield after seven years with the Reds. There are still indications that he will leave the club.
In the past two weeks, Klopp’s team has also defeated Nottingham Forest and Leeds United. A hard-fought victory over the Hammers made it three consecutive victories.
Cody Gakpo scored an equalizer immediately after Lucas Paqueta scored the game’s first goal at the London Stadium, maintaining parity.
As Liverpool dominated the ball and bombarded Lukasz Fabianski’s goal, Matip scored the game-winning header with 20 minutes remaining to make it 2-1.
The 31-year-old was one of the most impressive players on the pitch in east London, but that may only be a temporary diversion from the difficult transfer decision that awaits Klopp in the summer.
In terms of statistics, Matip has been one of the worst performers for the Reds this season.
Having conceded more Premier League goals than Chelsea in 11th place, it is evident that the defense must be revamped.
And as Matip nears the final year of his contract with Liverpool, a crucial decision appears inevitable at the conclusion of the season.
Due to turn 32 before the start of the next season, the likelihood of signing a contract extension appears remote.
The Reds may be best served by selling the former Cameroon international this summer in order to avoid losing him for nothing in 2024.
Van Dijk’s ire would be one of the decision’s drawbacks, despite the fact that it would make sense on multiple levels.
The Dutchman has also had a disappointing season by his elevated standards, but he is unlikely to be removed from the starting lineup even if Klopp is permitted to make defensive additions.
In recent seasons, Van Dijk has demonstrated that he relishes playing alongside Matip.
The pair’s bromance is well-documented, with Van Dijk referring to his centre-back partner as ‘the one and only Joel Matip’ earlier this season and giving him a public pep talk last year, which began:
“I said to him already, if you believe in yourself, like I believe in him, then you’re going to succeed.”
Matip, who was acquired from Schalke for nothing in 2016, is regarded as one of the greatest bargain signings in Premier League history.
He has made nearly 200 appearances for Liverpool and has won the Champions League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup, and Premier League with the club.
Several prospective defenders, including Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, and Benfica’s Goncalo Inacio, have been linked to Anfield ahead of the summer transfer window.
The transfer Liverpool are going to make that won’t please Van Dijk regardless of West Ham win.