Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has weighed in on the seismic transfer events affecting the club after their disappointing draw against Nottingham Forest (2-2). The Dutch defender has shown his support for the expected signing of PSG’s Bradley Barkola and has directly encouraged Cody Gakpo to stay put at Anfield.
This Sunday, French forward Bradley Barkola is set for a medical ahead of signing a five-year deal, with the total fee for the Parisians potentially reaching £123 million, making him the second-costliest signing in Liverpool’s history, just behind Alexander Isak.
Van Dijk commented on the need to bolster the attack in line with manager Andoni Iraola’s requirements:
Barkola is an outstanding player, incredibly quick. I remember his goal against Chelsea. If this deal goes through, we will welcome him with open arms. Liverpool remains an attractive destination for the world’s best players, even during this rebuilding phase.
Our manager has made it clear: he needs maximum output from the attacking unit, and depth in the squad coupled with high competition will help us challenge for trophies with no regrets.
The Dutch international also didn’t shy away from addressing his side’s defensive frailties:
We need to score more, concede less, and dominate games. Nottingham Forest have not lost at Anfield for three seasons in a row; that has never happened during my time here. It’s unacceptable. We showed character to come back twice, but we need to perform much better.
Separately, the captain expressed his desire for teammate Cody Gakpo, who is reportedly a £85 million target for Manchester City:
I want him to stay. The club must retain top-level players, not let them go. Cody is extremely important for us, and besides that, he’s a close friend of mine. Let’s see what the remaining days of the transfer window bring.
