Virgil van Dijk says he wants Joel Matip to sign an extension to his £140,000 per week Liverpool contract that expires in 2024.
One of the most incredible revelations this season has been the form of previously-maligned Joel Matip. The Cameroonian was unable to shake niggling injuries and so his form suffered and he was unable to become a regular for Liverpool.
Supporters were well aware that he is a talented player but until this season, the wider football community were unaware just how good a footballer he really is.
His mazy runs from centre-back well into the midfield have more than caught the eye this season and he has helped his side play out of defence with ease at times.
Virgil van Dijk urges Joel Matip to sign new Liverpool contract with terms expiring in 2024
Matip has never earned more praise for his defensive game than he has this season, forming a world-class partnership with Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence.
Now, the Dutchman has declared that he is so happy that Matip has been able to remain fit and that he wants the Liverpool no.32 to sign an extension to his £140,000 per week contract.
Speaking at Liverpool’s open training session on Wednesday, van Dijk told the Redmen TV: “I want him [Matip] to sign a new deal by the way.
“I want him to stay here for the next 10 years.
“I’m just so glad he’s had a season with no injuries so he can show who he is.”
Joel Matip contract details year by year to date
According to data from SalarySport, Matip earns £140,000 per week in 2022 but, in 2014, he used to earn just £38,000 per week when he played for Schalke in the Bundesliga.
Read more about his earnings below.
Year | Weekly wage | Annual Salary | Club | League | Age | Contract Expiry |
2022 | £140,000 | £7,280,000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 29 | 30-06-2024 |
2021 | £125,000 | £6,500,000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 28 | 30-06-2024 |
2020 | £125,000 | £6,500,000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 27 | 30-06-2024 |
2019 | £100,000 | £5,200,000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 26 | 30-06-2020 |
2018 | £100,000 | £5,200,000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 25 | 30-06-2020 |
2017 | £100,000 | £5,200,000 | Liverpool | Premier League | 24 | 30-06-2020 |
2016 | £32,000 | £1,664,000 | Schalke | Bundesliga | 23 | 29-06-2016 |
2015 | £32,000 | £1,664,000 | Schalke | Bundesliga | 22 | 29-06-2016 |
2013 | £32,000 | £1,664,000 | Schalke | Bundesliga | 21 | 29-06-2016 |
Joel Matip contract renewal would show faith
Liverpool’s success has increased their workload as far as new contracts for top-performing players are concerned.
When Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers were at the club, top players left the club more often than they signed new deals.
Oftentimes, players would leave the club soon after signing a new deal. During that period, player power was through the roof and the club struggled to keep their top stars.
Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling and Javier Mascherano spring to mind.
Under Klopp, Coutinho is the only world-beater to leave the club and it stands to reason that the Brazilian might regret it given all the success Liverpool have had since he left.
A Joel Matip contract renewal would show faith in him from the club.
He’s another 30-year-old that will likely prefer to remain at the club beyond his current terms and a public call from Virgil van Dijk to renew his deal might be unwanted pressure as far as FSG are concerned.
Van Dijk demanding a Joel Matip contract renewal places Liverpool under pressure
That said, the players are fully entitled to back each other and van Dijk telling the world what he wants (as the best defender in the world) may be a demand the club is willing to meet.
From the outside looking in, it seems Matip is van Dijk’s closest friend in the squad.
The Dutchman is always joking and teasing him in Liverpool’s uploads to YouTube and keeping him at the club could be another way to keep Klopp’s key player happy while retaining a world-class defender in Matip.
Centre-backs can shine well into their 30s so if Matip is well and truly beyond the worst of his injuries, keeping him could be a fantastic way to keep Liverpool’s squad depth healthy for years to come while ensuring that van Dijk and co. are happy too.