Chelsea reportedly explored a shock move for Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk.
The Dutchman has now signed a new deal at Anfield, where he is expected to lift his second Premier League title as captain at the end of May.
Van Dijk has supposedly agreed to a fresh two-year contract on Merseyside, committing him to the club until the conclusion of the 2026-27 campaign.
The centre-back has been a towering force for Arne Slot's men this term, with the Reds sitting pretty at the summit of the Premier League standings.
He also provided a magical moment at the top end of the pitch last time out, scoring an 89th-minute winner against West Ham United.
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Chelsea explored move for Van Dijk?
Following the announcement of Van Dijk's extended stay at Anfield, the Daily Mail are claiming that the defender could have ended up elsewhere in the Premier League next season.
The report states that the Dutchman was attracting interest from a host of top European clubs, including Liverpool's domestic rivals Chelsea.
It is understood that the Stamford Bridge Blues 'explored' the possibility of bringing the veteran defender to West London for the 2025-26 term.
However, it is believed that Van Dijk had no intention of departing Slot's winning machine at this stage, ruling out a switch to Chelsea in his mind.
There have also been suggestions that a transfer to French champions Paris Saint-Germain could have materialised, although such a move was supposedly a 'non-starter'.
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Van Dijk's Anfield partners
With two more full campaigns at Anfield, Van Dijk will be targeting further Premier League and Champions League glory under the tutelage of Slot.
The defender is the latest big name on Merseyside to sign a new deal, following the confirmation of Mohamed Salah's fresh terms at the club.
However, the Reds are reportedly set to lose the services of academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is preparing to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Carter White
