Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is expecting an intense summer ahead of next season.

Van Dijk also believes major new signings will be made.

"I'm very excited for next season," Van Dijk said. "I think that feeling came a couple of months ago when we turned the page. Obviously there's still a lot to work on but the good thing in this case is that we have the whole pre-season to work on this and that's definitely the plan.

"The noises I'm hearing, it's going to be a very intense pre-season with a lot of physical work but also a lot of tactical work trying to get ready for a tough season. That's very exciting. Players are leaving, hopefully players come in and will be ready for the start of pre-season.

"I think everyone that can come in and improve all of us, that will help the football club and push us all. It's always good. That will be the focus next season, to make sure that everyone's ready to contribute, it doesn't matter how old you are, you have to perform and do it together.

"Will no Champions League make it harder to recruit? No. Pre-season will be massive. Everybody knows we've been going through a little bit of a transition and, if I'm a player on the rise and I have options to go to the next step and Liverpool is knocking on my door, then I would be very, very interested. I don't think it's going to change much but, if someone wants to play in the Champions League no matter what, then that's their ambition.

"Obviously, the chances to reach Champions League football were quite slim but now it makes it more difficult. That's the situation. You play against a good side, they have been playing - especially since Unai Emery came in - a very good season. So we knew it was going to be tough but a frustrating afternoon."