Virgil van Dijk is hoping Liverpool hang on to Cody Gakpo with Manchester City reportedly closing in on the Dutch international before Tuesday’s transfer deadline. Gakpo looks set to be pushed down the pecking order at Anfield by the arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee that could rise to £123 million ($166 million), making the Frenchman the second most expensive player in Premier League history. In three-and-a-half years at Liverpool, Gakpo has scored 51 goals and played a major role in the club’s 20th English top-flight title in the 2024/25 campaign.
“We have to score more, we have to concede less. Nottingham Forest came here three times in the last three seasons and came away unbeaten, and that shouldn’t happen.”
Liverpool’s Season Start: Goals and Draws
Liverpool’s 27-year-old forward has kicked off the season with a promising performance, netting one goal and assisting another. The team, under the management of Andoni Iraola, has played two matches so far, both ending in 2-2 draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Barcola has been tempted to England from the European champions despite a troubled time for the Reds, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season. “He’s (Barcola) a very good player. If he comes he’ll be welcomed with open arms but until it’s there, there’s no point speaking about it now.
Because he is the quality player that he is, but also he’s a friend of mine and I think he will be very important for us, “Obviously it’s pretty clear that I want him to stay, not only.
“He’s a quality player and I think we should keep quality players, but let’s see what the next three days bring,” said Van Dijk. “It takes some time but obviously we all want it to work as soon as possible and for 90 minutes,” said Van Dijk.
