Van Dijk set to stay at Liverpool as Lille demand £100m for teenage midfielder Bouaddi

Virgil van Dijk is set to continue at Liverpool next season, with Anfield sources dismissing links to AC Milan and Fenerbahce, as new head coach Andoni Iraola shapes his squad amid a summer of significant departures.

Reports had suggested Liverpool were open to listening to serious offers for their club captain, with one outlet claiming the Dutchman was no longer considered “untouchable” at the club. But those suggestions have been firmly pushed back by sources close to the club, who insist the 34-year-old — who turns 35 this month — is part of their plans for the season ahead. Van Dijk is in the second year of a two-year contract extension signed in April 2024 and started every Premier League minute last season.

The update on Van Dijk comes as Liverpool navigate a turbulent transitional window. Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate have all left the club this summer, while goalkeeper Alisson Becker was also linked with a move away before appearing likely to stay.

Arnе Slot’s departure and Iraola’s appointment have added further uncertainty, though the Basque coach has already moved to bring in Victor Munoz from Osasuna as he begins rebuilding the squad.

On the incomings front, Liverpool and several other top clubs have been warned that signing Ayyoub Bouaddi will cost in the region of £100 million. The 18-year-old Lille midfielder has caught widespread attention after a standout role in Morocco’s run to the quarter-finals of this summer’s World Cup, adding to three impressive Ligue 1 seasons at the French club.

Lille president Olivier Letang made clear the club are under no obligation to sell, with Bouaddi holding three years remaining on his contract. “Many clubs are interested in him, but very few can afford him right now,” Letang told Eurosport. “He’s already one of the best midfielders in the world and still has significant room for improvement. He’s only 18 and has his whole future ahead of him.”

When pressed on whether a specific price had been set, Letang was deliberately vague: “Have I spoken, brought up the subject, given a figure? No, never. You have to look at his level.”

Liverpool are reported to be among the clubs monitoring Bouaddi, alongside Manchester United and Arsenal.