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Look away now Liverpool fans.
As if an early Champions League exit wasn’t bad enough for Arne Slot’s side, they might be about to have another problem with their captain.
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The Reds were knocked out of Europe at the last 16 phase on penalties by Paris Saint-Germain and footage has since emerged of Virgil van Dijk having a cosy post-match chat.
Images show the Dutchman inside Anfield having a talk with PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos.
The sight of Van Dijk talking to other teams certainly isn’t a pleasant one, but he has every right to do so as an impending free agent.
The 33-year-old has been with the Reds since a £75million move from Southampton in 2018, but is now in the surprise position of seeing his contract run down.
Even more head-scratching than that is that two of his other key teammates, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, could also both leave for free.
Salah has regularly said he’s likely to leave, while Alexander-Arnold has kept quiet amid intense links to Real Madrid.
As for Van Dijk, he’s also made it clear to supporters that things aren’t going well.
In October he said that ‘discussions are ongoing’ but in January he offered an update that suggested a resolution isn’t any closer.
Asked how many more appearances he’ll make, he said: "I have no idea. How many left this season?
"Hopefully those are guaranteed and then I don't know what the future will bring.”
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PSG are certainly the calibre of side that could seal such a mega free signing, given their huge Qatar-backed finances and that they cleared Kylian Mbappe’s massive wages last summer.
They also may need to strengthen at the back, as depth could be required, despite Marquinhos and William Pacho having sublime performances.
Should Van Dijk be serious about PSG, it’s Campos who he’d be negotiating with, having clashed in the tunnel with the Portuguese executive just a week earlier.
During half-time of the first leg in France, Campos was filmed shouting ‘Penalty or red card!’ at the match official over a challenge from Ibrahima Konate.
Van Dijk cooly responded: “This isn’t Ligue 1, bro,” which may have come up during their Anfield chat.
The Dutchman also praised their manager, who he could well be working under next season, telling the media post-match: “They have the quality to hurt any opponent, their attackers are very dangerous and direct.
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“Their coach Luis Enrique has made them a very good team.”
