Andoni Iraola given major Premier League title boost as 'powerful' star set to stay

Liverpool need change and they need it fast.

The fact that they finished fifth in the Premier League last season is a travesty and, without the five-game winning streak they went on at the start of the 2025-26 season, they’d have probably missed out on the Champions League.

This poor form clearly proves that new players are needed but, as the Reds showed last term, too much change all at once can actually be detrimental.

Of course, the fact that Alexander Isak will be fit from the off is a massive bonus but, from the limited amount of game time he’s had for Liverpool, he’s not managed to prove his worth.

Almost every area of their squad could do with an upgrade but, at the moment, the Reds seem to only just be figuring out who they want to keep and who they want to move on.

In fact, a fresh report has just shared what the Reds plan to do with one of their key players and, luckily for them, it’s good news.

Liverpool will not let Virgil van Dijk exit Anfield under any circumstances this summer

Virgil van Dijk has been Liverpool’s rock for as long as anyone can remember.

He’s always been one of the first names on the Reds’ team sheet with his leadership skills even earning him the captain’s armband after Jordan Henderson‘s departure.

Since then, critics have tried to take the Dutchman down and, even though he wasn’t at his best during the 2025-26 campaign, he was still Liverpool’s best centre-back.

His partner, Ibrahima Konate, has already chosen to leave which means there’s already a massive void for Liverpool to fill.

And, recently, rumours were arising about the future of Van Dijk with AC Milan and Fenerbahce linked with an interest in the defender.

However, as per a fresh update from The Athletic journalist James Pearce, it seems like the centre-back is going nowhere.

“Virgil van Dijk is going nowhere. The LFC captain currently on holiday and then back for pre-season,” he wrote via his personal X account.

“New head coach Andoni Iraola counting on him for 2026/27 and suggestions that LFC would even consider any offers for the talismanic defender are wide of the mark.”

Virgil van Dijk could be key to Liverpool winning the Premier League title this season

Liverpool’s goals this season will be to do far better than they did during Slot’s second campaign in charge.

The Anfield outfit should be one of the most feared teams in the world and, after spending £450 million last summer, you’d have thought they would be.

But, even if they spend more than that this time around, no signing or exit will compare to the importance of keeping the “powerful” centre-back at Anfield.

Sure, he may be 35 years old by the time the 2026-27 season ends but, he’s still one of the world’s best centre-backs.

Whether he gets a new contract by the end of the campaign or not is another story but, keeping him around, for now at least, is essential.

Iraola has two exciting young centre-backs within his first-team squad and, a year of Van Dijk’s mentorship is probably worth more to Liverpool than any fee.

There’s obviously no knowing whether things will change in the future or not but, for now at least, it feels like Liverpool are heading in the right direction.