Virgil van Dijk has made his feelings crystal clear about Curtis Jones' future at Anfield, backing the academy graduate to stay put despite growing speculation about his role under Arne Slot.

The Liverpool captain's endorsement comes as Jones enters the final year of his contract with no fresh agreement in sight. The 25-year-old midfielder has managed just 14 league starts this season, leading to whispers about frustration with his reduced influence.

When pressed about whether he wants to see Jones remain at the club, Van Dijk didn't hesitate. "Of course. I don't know what's going to happen because I'm not the boss," the skipper said.

"Curtis I thought was outstanding against Everton, was not too much spoken about but especially in possession he was quite a big game-changer, especially in his positioning. It's nice to be in your original position but he is so comfortable on the ball, he understands what is asked from that position."

Those words carry weight from a captain who knows what it takes to succeed at this level. Van Dijk's praise for Jones' recent performances at right-back suggests the versatile midfielder could have found a new lease of life in an unexpected position.

The England international was reportedly linked with a surprise move to Inter Milan during January but stayed put. Now, with his contract situation unresolved and Liverpool facing a summer of change, his future remains one of the key storylines heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

Meanwhile, the conversation around replacing Mohamed Salah has taken an intriguing turn. Former Red Jermaine Pennant has thrown his weight behind a bold move for Bayern Munich's Michael Olise, suggesting Liverpool should pursue the France international "at all costs."

Pennant's enthusiasm reached fever pitch after watching Olise score in Bayern's thrilling 5-4 Champions League semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. "Liverpool go out and get Olise right now, at all costs. There is your replacement for Mo Salah. AT ALL COSTS. Any amount plus Gakpo," he posted on social media.

The suggestion of including Cody Gakpo in any potential deal reflects the growing frustration with the Dutch forward's output. Despite 48 appearances across all competitions, Gakpo has managed just eight goals and six assists, numbers that fall well short of expectations for a player in his position.

Olise, by contrast, has been sensational in Germany. The 24-year-old has registered 20 goals and 29 assists across 47 appearances in what represents an outstanding second campaign at Bayern. Those are the kind of numbers that would go some way to addressing Liverpool's goal shortage, identified as one of the key problems hampering their progress this season.

The mathematics of such a move look challenging though. Olise's contract runs until 2029, meaning Bayern hold all the cards in any potential negotiations. Liverpool would need to present a package that makes the German giants seriously consider parting with one of their most productive players.

With four fixtures remaining in what's been an inconsistent campaign, Liverpool currently sit fourth but could climb to third with a two-goal victory over Manchester United on Sunday. It's hardly the position they envisaged at this stage of the season, but momentum heading into summer could prove valuable for Slot's rebuilding project.

The departure of Salah at season's end means the search for attacking reinforcements will be paramount. Whether that leads to Bayern's door or elsewhere, the pressure is on to get this summer's business right.

Van Dijk's public backing of Jones suggests not everyone will be heading for the exit, but with contracts to resolve and positions to strengthen, the coming months will define Liverpool's direction for years to come.