Van Dijk hits back at 'bitter' Liverpool critics and welcomes Barcola move

Virgil van Dijk has sent a clear message to anyone questioning whether Liverpool can still lure top talent: if you doubt it, bitterness is probably doing the talking. The Dutch centre-back spoke openly about the imminent arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain in a deal that could reach £123 million, while also defending the club's standing on the international stage.

• Liverpool have agreed a £106 million fee with PSG for Barcola, rising to £123 million with add-ons.
• Van Dijk believes those who doubt the club's appeal are "just trying to be a little bit bitter".
• The captain describes Barcola as a "very good player" and highlights his pace and finishing.
• He also wants the club to keep Cody Gakpo despite interest from Tottenham and Manchester City.
• Barcola will become the second most expensive signing in Liverpool's history once his medical is complete.

A marquee signing that pushes back at the noise around Liverpool

The summer has not been straightforward in the boardroom at Anfield. Before moving for Barcola, Liverpool saw Yan Diomande choose Real Madrid and their push for Yankuba Minteh come to nothing. The response, however, was emphatic: an agreement with PSG worth £106 million up front, potentially rising to £123 million, for a 23-year-old French winger who fits straight into the new project.

I don't think there's any doubt that a club like Liverpool is attracting very, very good players. If someone's doubting that, then they're just trying to be a little bit bitter.

Van Dijk's comments come after sections of the British press questioned whether Liverpool could still compete in the market with Europe's financial heavyweights. The defender does not buy that narrative at all: Liverpool remain one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the squad is navigating a transition that not every player is willing to take part in.

The goal at Stamford Bridge that convinced Van Dijk about Barcola

Barcola is expected to undergo his medical on Merseyside in the coming hours. Van Dijk has already given the move his seal of approval. The captain admitted that what catches his eye most about the French winger is his raw speed and the ability to deliver when it matters.

In particular, the Dutchman remembered a finish from Barcola away at Chelsea, a goal of serious quality that stuck with him. "Pace, speed. I remember a goal he scored against Chelsea away. It was a pretty good finish as well," Van Dijk said, before adding that until the deal is done there is no point talking too much about it.

Cody Gakpo's future becomes an uncomfortable talking point

The potential arrival of Barcola has coincided with an awkward rumble around Anfield: interest from Tottenham and Manchester City in Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward started the season by scoring Liverpool's first goal in the 2-2 draw with Newcastle and also set up Alexander Isak's equaliser in the 2-2 against Nottingham Forest, proving he matters from week one.

Van Dijk made no effort to hide where he stands. Selling Gakpo would, in his view, be a mistake from the club, and not only because of what the winger offers on the pitch. The captain admitted he is a close friend of Gakpo and believes the forward will be hugely important for the season ahead.

He's a quality player and I think we should keep quality players, but let's see what the next three days bring. It's pretty clear that I want him to stay, not only because obviously 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.

What the Barcola deal and a Gakpo exit would mean for Liverpool

The outlay on Barcola is no small gamble. If completed on the agreed terms, the Frenchman would become the second most expensive player in Liverpool's history, only behind Virgil van Dijk himself, the man now welcoming his arrival. It is a genuine statement of intent: Liverpool do not just want to battle for a Champions League place, they want to frighten teams again.

Gakpo represents the other side of the coin. Selling the Dutchman would help balance the books after the Barcola outlay, but it would also send a contradictory message: letting go of a young, productive player loved in the dressing room just as the club tries to build something serious. Van Dijk has said it plainly, and with the English transfer window closing within days, a resolution is close.

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