Virgil van Dijk has no doubt Liverpool remain one of the biggest attractions in world football as they close in on the signing of Bradley Barcola.
The Reds are understood to have agreed a deal worth up to £166.6 million with Paris Saint-Germain for France international Barcola, their top transfer target this summer.
That deal is expected to be concluded imminently and he could be followed by other signings before Tuesday’s deadline with Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr also linked with the Anfield club.
Van Dijk accepts Liverpool are a work in progress, with Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest seeing their shortcomings highlighted for a second successive week, but he is confident about the direction of travel.
The Liverpool captain said: “I don’t think there’s any doubt that a club like Liverpool are attracting very, very good players. If someone’s doubting that, then they’re just trying to be a little bit bitter.
“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.”
The arrival of Barcola, a member of PSG’s Champions League-winning squad for the past two seasons, is an exciting prospect.
Van Dijk said: “He’s 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, and it’s not there.”
One piece of business Van Dijk would not welcome would be the sale of his international team-mate Cody Gakpo, who has impressed in Liverpool’s two opening games despite them both ending in draws.
Gakpo has been linked with Tottenham and Manchester City.
Van Dijk said: “He’s a quality player and I think we should keep quality players, but let’s see what the next three days bring.
“Obviously it’s pretty clear that I want him to stay, not only 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.”
Liverpool twice needed to come from behind against Forest. Alexander Isak cancelled out Dan Ndoye’s opener but it took a fine strike from Victor Munoz on his full debut to secure a point after a controversial Morgan Gibbs-White penalty restored the visitors’ lead.
The result left Andoni Iraola still awaiting his first win as manager.
Van Dijk said: “It takes some time but obviously we all want it to work as soon as possible and for 90 minutes, by the way, because things have been going well but obviously not that well.
“That’s now two games in a row we’ve had to fight back. Obviously it’s a good sign that we fight back but I think we can still do much better than what we have been showing.
“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.”
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