Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has dropped a hint on where Virgil van Dijk could move if he departs Liverpool this summer.
Van Dijk is out of contract at the end of the season, and rumours have intensified over the past week that a move away from Anfield is looking more likely, with a free transfer to Paris Saint-Germain potentially on the cards.
The disappointment of Sunday's EFL Cup final defeat to Newcastle United has not helped matters, with the result being used as an engine to further push the potential story around the Dutch defender leaving the club.
A move to Saudi Arabia has also been mooted, but national team manager Koeman has weighed-in on those rumours.
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Koeman expects Van Dijk to stay in Europe
Speaking ahead of the Netherlands' two-legged UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Spain this week, Koeman played down the idea of Van Dijk potentially moving to the Saudi Pro League.
"Whether he signs with Liverpool or another big club, that's all good for me." Koeman remarked.
"We'll see what happens, and what I understand from Virgil is that he is still looking for the level he is at now."
Koeman was scathing recently about the decision by Steven Bergwijn to move to Saudi Arabia despite being only 26, instantly refusing to call the former Tottenham Hotspur man up to the national team.
Van Dijk may be fearful that his international career could come to a swift end if he was to make such a move, given Koeman's public condemnation of Bergwijn.
It should also be pointed out that Van Dijk's former Liverpool teammate Georginio Wijnaldum was selected for their Euro 2024 squad despite playing for Al-Ettifaq, but it is unlikely Koeman would cross that bridge again.
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Van Dijk's PSG links swiftly denied
That would also suggest that PSG could be the club most fancied to win Van Dijk's signature, but that link has been played down today.
In the aftermath of the Parisian's win on penalties at Anfield in the Champions League last week, Van Dijk was spotted speaking to Director of Football Luis Campos and President Nasser Al-Khelaifi in the tunnel.
However, French football expert Julien Laurens has revealed that no talks or negotiations are taking place between PSG or Van Dijk, and the conversation that occurred between the player and the club's hierarchy was simply about the match between the two teams.
Van Dijk has remained committed to ensuring Liverpool claim a second title in five years though, playing down any contract talks publicly.
The Liverpool captain will next be in action for the national side when Holland face European champions Spain in Rotterdam on Thursday night.
Andrew Delaney
