David Lynch warns Liverpool over another contract dilemma
Liverpool’s season has been defined by fine margins in the Premier League, but off the pitch another issue is beginning to loom. Despite extending his deal for two years last summer, Virgil van Dijk will have just 12 months remaining by the end of this campaign. On Media Matters for Anfield Index, David Lynch made it clear that Liverpool should not delay when it comes to securing their captain’s long term future.
With Champions League qualification still in the balance, Lynch believes stability at the back is non negotiable.
No Signs of Decline in Van Dijk
Amid criticism of Liverpool’s inconsistent form, Lynch addressed suggestions that Van Dijk is past his peak.
“It’s been funny to me that kind of while Liverpool have had struggles this season, you’ve heard a lot of talk of the Van Dijk decline and all these kind of things,” he said.
Lynch dismissed that narrative outright. “I just don’t think there’s been any signs of it whatsoever.”
Context matters. “I think he’s been in a poorer team,” Lynch explained, separating individual performance from collective inconsistency. Apart from “maybe a couple of mistakes against Bournemouth,” he described Van Dijk’s level as “absolutely impeccable otherwise.”
In a Premier League campaign where defensive reliability has often been scarce, Lynch was emphatic. “He’s just so clearly the best centre half in the league at the moment still.”
Case for Acting Before Final Year
With the clock ticking towards the final 12 months of his contract, Lynch did not hesitate on what Liverpool should do.
“You would like to see it,” he said when asked about extending Van Dijk again. The reasoning is straightforward. Centre backs can perform at the highest level deeper into their thirties, particularly when supported properly.
“Since centre half’s a position you can go on a little bit longer,” Lynch noted. “If you can get some protection in front of him he can really really extend how far he can go as well.”
That line ties Van Dijk’s longevity to wider squad planning. If Liverpool address midfield physicality and provide greater shielding, their captain’s influence can remain elite.
The alternative, allowing him to enter the final year without clarity, risks unnecessary uncertainty.
Photo: IMAGO
Avoiding Another Transition Season
Lynch has repeatedly stressed the importance of continuity, particularly after a campaign that has exposed structural flaws.
“If there’s going to be turnover again in the squad this summer, that’s not going to be helpful. We don’t want another transition season coming up,” he warned in related discussion about defensive stability.
Van Dijk remains the foundation of Liverpool’s defensive structure. Losing him, or even allowing prolonged speculation, would only complicate an already delicate rebuild.
As Lynch put it, “He’s absolutely phenomenal.” In a season where Manchester City and Arsenal have both looked vulnerable at times, Liverpool cannot afford to weaken their strongest department.
The Premier League landscape is shifting. No side has dominated consistently this season, and marginal gains could define Champions League qualification and title ambitions next term.
Van Dijk’s leadership, composure and consistency remain central to Liverpool’s competitive ceiling. Lynch’s message was not alarmist, but it was firm.
“I really do think Liverpool should be thinking already about the idea that they’re going to extend his stay,” he said.
With just 12 months left by season’s end, that thinking may need to accelerate. Stability at centre back has long underpinned Liverpool’s best Premier League campaigns. Ensuring Van Dijk remains at the heart of that structure should be a priority.