Liverpool are reportedly willing to consider offers for club captain Virgil van Dijk this summer, according to TEAMtalk. The 35-year-old Dutch defender, who joined from Southampton for £75m in January 2018, is out of contract in 2027. While the club is not actively seeking to sell him, they are 'open to offers' and no longer view him as 'untouchable'. Turkish side Galatasaray and former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim's new club Milan have been linked with the centre-back.
Van Dijk's Legacy at Anfield
Van Dijk has been a transformative signing for Liverpool, helping the club win two Premier League titles, the Champions League in 2019, and numerous domestic trophies. He has also played in two other European Cup finals, both lost to Real Madrid. New Reds boss Andoni Iraola is not pushing for his exit, but the club is prepared to evaluate any serious offer on its merits before making a decision.
Barcola Chooses Arsenal
Liverpool's pursuit of PSG winger Bradley Barcola appears to have hit a snag, with the player reportedly favouring a move to Arsenal. According to the Daily Mail's Lewis Steele, speaking on the Anfield Index podcast, the Reds are not seen as glamorous a proposition this year as last when they were Premier League champions. Steele noted that Barcola might prefer to work with Mikel Arteta and live in London.
PSG are keen to keep Barcola, with a price tag of around £116m. Steele added that the European champions could demand even more if France wins the World Cup. He stated: 'It's going to be very, very hard for Liverpool to get Barcola,' admitting that the Reds have lost out on their top targets so far.
Liverpool's Summer Activity
Liverpool have been relatively quiet since the early signing of Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna for £34.5m and defender Jeremy Jacquet, who joined from Rennes for around £60m in January. Talks have centred on targets such as Yan Diomande, who reportedly chose Paris Saint-Germain, and now Barcola, who seems to favour Arsenal.
