Van Dijk Sends Signal to Liverpool Board - Hopes for Konate Contract Renewal

Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool's key defender, hopes that Ibrahim Konate, his center-back partner, will continue playing at Anfield. Konate, a French player, has returned to his starting position, but there are no developments regarding a new contract to replace his current deal expiring this summer. Van Dijk recently commented, 'Everything is proceeding step by step, and we'll see how it goes. It's never easy. We may have seen similar situations from my own story last year. It's not simple to say just get it done. I want him to stay. He's crucial on the field, which everyone can see, and off the field, he's also one of the team's leaders. He always stands out, and in my eyes, he's one of the world-class central defenders. Everything depends on the club and his agent. I have no influence on this matter.'