Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid – but the Spanish club has now dismissed claims that the Dutchman is on its radar

Real Madrid has quashed rumors linking it with a move for Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.

Despite the Dutchman’s contract at Anfield winding down, the Spanish club has made it clear its not in pursuit. Meanwhile, interest in Liverpool’s right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold remains high, with Madrid having its overtures for a January switch rebuffed.

Speculation was rife after reports from Spain suggested Van Dijk had been touted to Real last summer, with Revelo reporting the player’s openness to a switch post-contract. Yet a Real Madrid spokesperson has set the record straight to 365scores.

“They said: The talk about Real Madrid’s desire to sign Liverpool player Van Dijk is incorrect. Van Dijk is not part of our contractual plans and we have not sent an official offer to Liverpool regarding negotiations with Van Dijk. The player has not been offered to our club by the player’s agents, and if that happens, it will be announced through our official team channels.”

Van Dijk himself has expressed a desire to extend his stay at Liverpool but noted after the stalemate with Manchester United that contract talks were not imminent. “I don’t think (there will be an update soon) but I am calm about it, like I said months ago,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens in the future and at this point I have absolutely no update. It’s all about at the moment focusing, for me and the team, on Spurs (on Wednesday). It will be a tough game again, but a good (Carabao Cup) semifinal.”

The Dutch defender also jokingly parried away speculations tying him to Madrid following Liverpool’s encounter with them, noting how the English media isn’t as blunt with its inquiries.

“Wow, what a direct question from you – they don’t ask me that direct (in England),” he joked. “At the moment, there is nothing I can say. The only thing I can say is that I’m fully focussed on (Liverpool’s next game against) Man City from now on. Do they (Real Madrid need defenders)? I don’t know. But (Antonio) Rudiger is there, no?”

“When? In the summer?” Van Dijk then replied when asked if he could join Madrid. “Well, like I said to you before, the main focus for me at the moment is facing Man City.”