Liverpool news: Virgil van Dijk makes transfer demand as West Ham target Reds star

Liverpool moved one step closer to the Premier League title on Sunday when Virgil van Dijk headed home a late winner against West Ham. It sealed a dream week for Arne Slot's side, with top scorer Mohamed Salah having signed a contract extension just days earlier.

Van Dijk himself could be next. The club captain has strongly indicated his own new deal is a question of when rather than if, after skippering the side for the 100th time over the weekend.

Liverpool need just two more wins to wrap up the title. The first of those could come as soon as Easter Sunday, when a Reds win at the King Power Stadium would also confirm relegation for opponents Leicester City.

Once the season is over, attention will turn towards the summer window. New deals for Salah and Van Dijk could leave Slot and transfer chief Richard Hughes with less of a rebuild mission, but there's still potentially some work to do.

There are likely to be exits, too, with Giorgi Mamardashvili's summer arrival potentially spelling the end for Caoimhin Kelleher. Here are Mirror Football's latest lines from around Anfield.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has called for a big summer from the club in the transfer market. Arne Slot's first window at the helm was a quiet one, with Federico Chiesa joining and Giorgi Mamardashvili agreeing a deal to move to Anfield after the 2024-25 season, but things could be different this year.

Liverpool's quality has been evident during their run to the title, but they were found wanting at times during their European exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. And the skipper believes work needs to be done to ensure this title tilt isn't a one-off.

“Whatever happens in terms of players going out, players coming in, I think it should be a big summer," Van Dijk said. "I think they're planning to make it a big summer, so we all have to trust the board, as a Liverpool-connected fan, to do the right job. I think Liverpool should be able to challenge for titles in the upcoming years.”

Caoimhin Kelleher has emerged as West Ham's top summer target, according to The Sun. The Irish international has made no secret of his desire for first-team football, but Liverpool kept hold of him over the summer despite Premier League interest.

West Ham have split goalkeeping duties between veteran Lukasz Fabianski and French international Alphonse Areola this season. Areola struggled in the Hammers' recent draw with Bournemouth, but kept his place for Sunday's trip to Anfield.

Kelleher has played 20 times for Liverpool this season, with most of those outings coming when starting keeper Alisson was out with a hamstring injury. The Reds are said to favour a permanent exit for the 26-year-old, while West Ham are believed to favour an initial loan.

Arne Slot talked up West Ham pair Mohammed Kudus after Sunday's tight-fought game at Anfield. The pair played a big part on the Hammers' run to the Europa League quarter-finals last season, and Liverpool's manager suggested they have showed the kind of quality needed to turn out for his Liverpool side.

"They also have players and that's what makes the Premier League so strong this season," Slot said after Sunday's game. "I think they're 16th or 17th in the league but I can name you one or two players that could easily have played with us today as well in terms of quality.

"That is what the Premier League is about. And they used them more and more in the second half, these two quality players. And they have more, but I think Paqueta and Kudus were outstanding today, especially second half."

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