Paris Saint-Germain has not made an offer of $109 million (£84 million/€100 million) to Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk ahead of the summer, despite claims that the Dutchman was being lined up by the Ligue 1 giant amid uncertainty over his future.
Van Dijk is yet to agree terms over an extension at Anfield with his Liverpool deal set to expire at the end of the current campaign. But he has already made it clear that anyone who claimed to know anything about his future is "lying."
Last week, the Dutchman was spotted in conversation with several PSG bosses at Anfield which sparked speculation in some quarters. That was extended this week with claims emerging that PSG had made a bid for his services.
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"There is nothing between PSG and Virgil Van Dijk," French journalist Julien Laurens has confirmed on social media. "No talks, no negotiations, no 100m signing on fee offer. Nothing. Virgil had a chat with Luis Campos and Nasser Al Khelaifi after the Champions League second leg. It wasn’t about his future but about the two games they played."
"I don't understand why this video has caused such a huge controversy on social media," Pascal Ferre, director of press and media at PSG, told 365scores. "The conversation between Van Dijk, the club president, and also the sporting director was completely natural and spontaneous.
"Our president did not discuss any negotiations to sign the player, and everything rumored about this is false. The discussion was friendly, and the club president has the utmost respect for Van Dijk."
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman said in a press conference this week that whether Van Dijk stays or leaves Liverpool, he expects him to remain at a club competing at a high level. The 34-year-old is clearly still capable.
"Whether he signs with Liverpool or another big club, that's all good for me," Koeman said. "We'll see what happens. And what I understand from Virgil is that he is still looking for the level he is at now."
Van Dijk could play two more games this week with the Netherlands set to take on Spain in the UEFA Nations League. The first match is on Thursday and the second on Sunday.
Liverpool.com says: PSG has shown in the Champions League against Liverpool that it is a serious team now. It wouldn't struggle to match the wage demands of Van Dijk either. Realistically, though, its domestic league is not particularly appealing. It has also moved away from signing older players in recent times, opting to move to a different model which appears to be working well.
