Virgil van Dijk outlines 'big' Liverpool summer transfer plans as Arsenal sent clear warning

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted it could be a "big summer" for the club as they close in on their second ever Premier League title.

The Reds extended their lead over on Sunday with a 2-1 victory against West Ham, meaning side need a maximum of six points to clinch the club's record-equalling 20th championship. Forward Federico Chiesa was the only addition to Slot's squad in the summer but Van Dijk believes the Reds will be challenging for titles in the years to come.

“I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years,” said , who captained the team for the 100th time against West Ham. “Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer. I think they’re planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board to do the right job.

“I think we 100 per cent can improve. I think we shouldn’t forget the quality that the Premier League possesses, especially this season. It’s incredible how everyone can beat everyone. Brentford got a draw at Arsenal, Chelsea-Ipswich was a draw. We obviously lost against Fulham last week, so we can’t forget that either.

“This year, there is a training camp and there is time for the team to work on what the manager wants and I think that will then improve the team. I think a proper pre-season would definitely help the club in order to be even more consistent than we already have been.”

With Arsenal now firmly concentrating on the Champions League, with the quarter-final second leg to come against Real Madrid on Wednesday, the Gunners' results in the league have been disappointing in recent weeks. This has allowed Liverpool to run away with the league title and Van Dijk is set to become only the second Liverpool captain to lift the Premier League trophy.

“Being successful with Liverpool, the culture of the club, everything that embodies Liverpool – that is just part of me,” he said. “I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.

“We are two wins, six points away from glory. I know what it means to the club and I know what it will bring us if it happens. Most of the players don’t so when it happens it will be beautiful but we still have a job to do.”