Van Dijk drops hint he could quit Liverpool after Klopp announces summer exit

   

 Is this the beginning of a major player exodus at Anfield?

VIRGIL VAN DIJK has thrown his Liverpool future into doubt following Jurgen Klopp's announcement that he will step down as manager.

The centre-back has just 18 months remaining on his contract and he refused to commit his long-term future to the club.

Virgil van Dijk refused to commit his long-term future to LiverpoolCredit: Getty

The centre-back has impressed in the Premier League this season

Van Dijk, 32, was asked if he will be part of the next era at Anfield after Klopp leaves at the end of the season.

He replied saying: “That’s a big question. I don’t know.

“The club will have a big job on their hands. To replace not only the manager but the whole staff, there are so many things that will change.

“I'm very curious which direction that will go in but when that will be announced we will see our situation. I can't say much about it.

“Obviously it will be the end of Jurgen Klopp’s era. I am very glad that I am still part of it. That is why I don’t like to speak about it. I am still part of it.

“That is my main focus and we will see at the end of the season. Hopefully, we have the success that we all dream of and fight for each day and, by then, there will probably be more clarification for what the club wants for the future and then we will see.”

Several key figures are set to leave the club including sporting director Jorg Schmadtke and coaches Pep Lijnders, Peter Krawietz and Vitor Matos.

It appears Van Dijk is waiting to see who arrives as their replacements before deciding his future.

But he was adamant the squad's mentality is still the same following Klopp's decision to step down.

He added: "Nothing has really changed. Obviously things will change at the end of the season and in the new season but at the moment it doesn't and we have to keep doing the same things.

"It's easier said than done but I sense the rest of the boys think like that as well and it is the job for me to ensure we keep it that way. Today [Norwich match] was a good day. The manager said it in his press conference: ask everything there and then we go back to focusing on what we want to achieve.

"That's how I see it as well. We can speak about the situation about what will happen next year every week but it doesn't change. It's noise we don't need and that's why we focus on getting the job done and that's why I feel nothing has changed.

"It is still the same but at the end of the season there will be different things happening of course but that is for the club to sort out."

Former Red Xabi Alonso is the favourite to take over at Anfield following his success with Bayer Leverkusen, guiding the German club to the Bundesliga summit.

While Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi and Tottenham's Ange Postecoglou are also understood to be on Liverpool's radar.

Jurgen Klopp has won five major honours with Liverpool