Virgil van Dijk contract hint and Liverpool dressing room response to Michael Edwards return

Virgil van Dijk has revealed the entire squad are excited by the new, post-Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool as he dropped a hint about his own contract status, saying: "There will be a big transition and I am part of that."

Richard Hughes will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season to take over as sporting director from June 1, while Michael Edwards has been installed at the top of the club after taking on a position as owners Fenway Sports Group's 'CEO of football'.

Edwards is effectively replacing FSG president Mike Gordon as the day-to-day runner of the football club with Hughes set to become the Reds' first permanent sporting director since Julian Ward, who left Anfield after helping sign Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023.

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Feyenoord boss Arne Slot is now expected to complete the overhaul of the power structure at Liverpool with the Dutchman poised to succeed Klopp as manager and while Van Dijk admits it is a period of transition for the entire operation, he believes his colleagues are looking forward to what comes next.

"We are not quiet so we know things are happening but at this stage there has been no decision made [over the next manager]," Van Dijk said. "We know other things are decided and Michael Edwards is coming back, Richard Hughes will be the sporting director, they are the only decisions that have been made.

"Other than that we will just wait and see but I have got full trust in the club to make that right decision. There will be a lot of changes happening and I wouldn't say scary is the right word but it is quite interesting and exciting what will happen now. So let's see, let's see.

"Is [Slot] the new manager? Nothing has been announced but there's rumours, things out there that he could be his successor. So let's see, we have two more games in this season and when it is over and there is news, we will focus on what is coming next but it is a fact that there will be a lot of changes happening and it will be interesting. I am here to be a part of that and looking forward to it.

"I am at the club and the captain so I want to help, I will help and I should help [the transition]. If he is the one who comes then let's see."

On his own contract, which expires in the summer of 2025, Van Dijk added: "I think there is nothing for me to discuss because there is no news, 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. The focus is now on the last two and then the club will focus on who the new manager is and there will be a big transition and I am part of that."

On Klopp, who now has just two games left of a historic tenure in the Anfield hotseat, the Reds skipper said: "He is quite a manager, very impressive in my opinion, he is the whole package. He is a fantastic manager, a great human being and we have a great relationship.

"I am really proud I played for him, fought for the badge and him and count the success we had over the years as well. So like I said it will be emotional on the last day but it is a part of life sometimes.

"We have been saying that for quite some time. Listen it will be emotional and many things happening behind the scenes and it will be emotional but we focus on match days and that is our duty, our job and we want to perform for the last six points.

"Listen if you said at the start of the season that this is how it would have gone then I think we would have taken that. We are winners and we were close and that is how it is, we weren't good enough in the decisive moments but that is life. We have to stick together and we will.

"It's on us and a few of us have been in title races and on the losing sides at times and it hurts. But yeah, like I said we have to take this experience with us and you only improve if you learn and that is the aim and we can take that into next season. We want to give the manager a good farewell and do it for ourselves as well.

"[The lack of clean sheets] is not great but we are in the last part of the season and fatigue kicks in. We got three points, that is what matters but of course we want clean sheets. It didn't happen today and it is something we definitely have to improve and I feel responsible because I am one of the leaders at the back. We have to improve and I will make sure we do."

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