Virgil van Dijk has delivered an emphatic message to Anfield chiefs as Liverpool close in on a £123m agreement for Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola. While the club captain welcomes attacking reinforcements, he has publicly urged decision-makers to reject rival bids for Cody Gakpo ahead of Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
High Stakes Around Attacking Reshuffle
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Barcola is undergoing a medical on Merseyside prior to signing a five-year contract, with PSG agreeing an initial £110m fee plus £13m in add-ons. The French attacker represents the second most expensive signing in club history. Yet, as manager Andoni Iraola navigates a winless start to the Premier League campaign, negotiations over an £85m departure for Gakpo have sparked concern. The boardroom reshuffle comes as [New Liverpool Vice-Chairman Amit Bhatia Calls Role the](https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/new-liverpool-vice-chairman-amit-bhatia-fsg-investment-dreams/) start of an evolving long-term vision.
Captain Van Dijk Demands Gakpo Stay
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Addressing the prospect of his compatriot departing for direct rivals, the defender made his stance unambiguous. “What do you think? He’s a quality player. I think we should keep quality players.” Van Dijk highlighted the attacker’s vital dressing room status, adding: “I want him to stay not only because he’s a quality player, but also because he’s a friend of mine. He’s very important for us.”
Gakpo has shown his quality in crucial moments over the last two weeks. His long range effort against Newcastle brought the scores back to 1-1.
Against Nottingham Forest, his skills were also crucial as his cross found Alexander Isak to also bring the score back to 1-1.
Pressure Mounts Before Window Closes
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Regarding Barcola’s arrival, the skipper praised the incoming talent: “He’s a good player, that’s the only thing I can say.” With the window entering its final hours, Liverpool must decide whether to sanction Gakpo’s exit or heed their captain’s plea to protect squad depth.
The feeling amongst Liverpool fans suggest that the signing of Barcola would not be enough if Gakpo were to leave and therefore would look for at least one more wing option to add depth to the attack.