Virgil van Dijk has sent a clear message to Liverpool’s hierarchy. He wants Cody Gakpo to stay at Anfield, despite growing interest from Manchester City. Speaking after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest, the captain didn’t hold back on how he feels about a potential exit for his Dutch teammate.
“He’s a quality player and I think we should keep quality players,” Van Dijk said when asked directly about Gakpo’s future. He went further too, adding that the forward matters to him personally, not just as a colleague but as a close friend through their time together with the Netherlands.
City’s Interest Puts Gakpo’s Future In Doubt
Manchester City have reportedly prepared an offer worth up to £85 million for Gakpo, and talks between the two clubs are already underway. Tottenham showed interest earlier in the window too, but City looks like the most likely destination now if a move actually happens.
What makes this tricky is timing. Gakpo has started the season strongly, chipping in a goal and an assist across Liverpool’s opening two Premier League fixtures. Both ended in draws, yet his performances have stood out as one of the few genuine positives amid a shaky start under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola only complicates things further. The Reds have already agreed a deal worth roughly £123 million for the PSG winger, and his arrival could push Gakpo further down the pecking order. That might explain why the Dutchman seems open to a move, even with his captain publicly campaigning against it.
Van Dijk didn’t dodge the Barcola question either. He called the Frenchman a very good player and said he’ll be welcomed with open arms once the deal goes through. Still, the underlying message was hard to miss: losing Gakpo, in Van Dijk’s eyes, would be a mistake the club shouldn’t make lightly.
With the window closing Tuesday night, time is running short for Liverpool to make a final call. Fans wanting to track how this plays out, along with predictions for the rest of the window, can follow along at KCPredict.
Iraola’s Side Still Searching For Consistency
Beyond the transfer drama, Van Dijk also touched on Liverpool’s rocky start to the season. Back-to-back 2-2 draws, against Newcastle and now Forest, have left Iraola still hunting for his first win in charge. Van Dijk was honest about the pattern, saying that fighting back twice shows something good about the group’s character, even if it’s not the full answer.
“It’s a process and we’re working on it,” he said, pointing to upcoming fixtures against Ipswich, Fulham, and Bournemouth as chances to build real momentum before the international break.
Whether Gakpo ends up part of that process will likely become clear within days. Liverpool.com’s coverage of the story suggested the forward seems genuinely torn between staying loyal to Anfield and testing himself somewhere chasing silverware more aggressively right now.