Liverpool FC boss Jurgen Klopp has refused to issue a firm commitment over Virgil van Dijk’s return in time for this summer’s UEFA Euros from a season-long injury layoff.
The Holland international central defender has been sidelined with a knee injury that required surgery after he had limped off the Merseyside derby affair following a lunging challenge from Everton No.1 Jordan Pickford back in October last year.
Klopp clarifies Van Dijk’s recovery progress from injury
The Reds gaffer has voiced firmness in his decision to not force back the Dutchman into on-field action from an injury that has kept the defensive colossus out for the majority part of the ongoing campaign.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Klopp sounded out that the final decision was Van Dijk’s to take regarding his participation in the UEFA Euros which are to be held in the summer ahead of the next season.
“Virgil’s knee. Look, I don’t want to hold him back, but you cannot force it as well.
“Now let’s just go through all these kind of things. You are all long enough in the business to know if you want to play a tournament, you have to train before – proper football training weeks before, not a week before.
“You cannot after 10, 11 months out, train a week and play football. That’s just not possible, it should not be possible.
“Nobody holds him back, I can promise all the people in Holland or wherever. But we cannot force it as well and we will not. We speak about a player and his career.
“Nobody should force that and nobody will – not Holland, not us, and [not] Virgil as well. He just tries to get fit as quick as possible.
“In the moment, nobody knows when that will be exactly but you can imagine it will be for sure very, very tight with the Euros and the team training and stuff like this because he is not in team training yet and will not be in the next weeks. So, I don’t know.
“But in the end it’s a decision of Virgil and he will get massively influenced by the feeling in his knee.”
Van Dijk’s early return could affect Liverpool’s transfer plans
The Merseysiders have been rampant in their chase for defensive reinforcements in the transfer market with Ibrahima Konate being the priority target for Jurgen Klopp as he seeks to bolster an injury-ravaged backline at Anfield.
With concerns over the Reds inching closer to the May deadline to meet Ozan Kabak’s buy-out clause, Van Dijk’s earlier than expected return from injury is bound to play a major role in shaping up the club’s plans for the summer transfer window.
