Cody Gakpo, a forward for Liverpool, is reportedly a transfer target for Manchester City as the Premier League transfer deadline approaches. Virgil van Dijk has expressed hope that Liverpool will retain Gakpo, especially with Manchester City reportedly preparing to make a bid of 75 million pounds ($101.6 million). Gakpo's position at Liverpool may be affected by the arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, who could become the second-most expensive player in Premier League history with a fee that could rise to $166 million.
During his time at Liverpool, Gakpo has scored 51 goals and contributed significantly to the club's 20th English top-flight title in the 2024–25 season. This season, he has started well, scoring one goal and providing an assist in the team's opening two matches, which ended in draws against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.
Van Dijk stated, "He’s a quality player, and I think we should keep quality players, but let’s see what the next three days bring." He emphasized his desire for Gakpo to stay, citing both his quality and their friendship.
Barcola's potential move to Liverpool comes amid challenges for the team, which finished fifth in the Premier League last season. Van Dijk remains optimistic about Liverpool's appeal to top players, saying, "I think Liverpool are still one of the biggest clubs in the world. Obviously, we all know that we’re going through a transition, and you either want to be part of it, or you don’t. I’m part of it now."
He acknowledged the team's defensive struggles in recent matches but noted the positive aspect of their ability to come back from behind. Van Dijk remarked, "It takes some time, but obviously we all want it to work as soon as possible and for 90 minutes." He added that the team needs to improve in both scoring and defense, referencing Nottingham Forest's unbeaten record against Liverpool in their last three encounters.