Liverpool are reportedly preparing a lucrative new contract for Virgil van Dijk in a bid to ward off interest from Juventus.
The 28-year-old has emerged as one of the world's leading players since joining Liverpool for £75m in January 2018, helping the Reds to success in the Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup as well as putting them on course for a first English title in 30 years.
Van Dijk's form in 2019 saw him finish as runner-up to Lionel Messi in the Ballon d'Or voting, and Football Insider now claim that the Liverpool hierarchy have made tying him down to a new deal one of their main priorities.
The Dutchman's current contract does not expire until 2023, but Italian giants Juventus were recently linked with a world-record £150m move for the centre-back.
The report claims that the fresh terms would see Van Dijk earn a pay rise from his current salary of £125,000 per week to more than £150,000 a week.
Further bonuses for appearances, goals, clean sheets and team success could take the overall value of the five-year contract to more than £50m.
Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool's Premier League campaign, with the Reds winning 24 of their 25 matches to open up an unprecedented 22-point lead at the top of the table.
Barney Corkhill
