"Van Dijk was offered a new contract by Liverpool, but it didn't meet his expectations."

"Virgil van Dijk received an offer, something Mo Salah hasn't received yet. I did anticipate that Salah will get an offer shortly. Perhaps only Liverpool can explain why he hasn't yet and Van Dijk has.

Maybe their captain is their top priority, and the difference between what they are willing to provide Salah and what he desires is so great that you don't approach him with a proposition if you think it could annoy him.

"In the Van Dijk case, an offer—an opening proposal—has been made during the course of lengthy negotiations.

"It's acknowledged that it didn't live up to his expectations, and there hasn't been any progress on the length of the possible new arrangement or its value as of yet. Talks are still ongoing, but that doesn't mean it won't happen.

"The ownership, Fenway Sports Group, must make a significant choice. Going big on a deal for players older than thirty, which both of them are, is against their policy.