Virgil van Dijk has stated that Bradley Barcola could be ‘welcomed with open arms’ as soon as he completes his impending switch to Liverpool.
The French winger is ready to bear a medical immediately forward of his £123m transfer to Anfield from Paris Saint-Germain (The Athletic), which’d make him the Reds’ second costliest signing of all time and conclude a pursuit which has lasted for months.
The 23-year-old will come to Merseyside as a two-time Champions League winner with PSG and a scorer of three objectives for semi-finalists France at this summer season’s World Cup, and the payment being paid for him signifies simply how a lot religion (and cash) LFC are investing in him.
Van Dijk speaks out about imminent Barcola switch
Chatting with reporters after Liverpool’s 2-2 draw towards Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Van Dijk was requested about Barcola’s impending switch to the Reds, one which the present captain has endorsed.
The 35-year-old stated (by way of The Specific): “He’s a great participant, that’s the one factor I can say. I don’t assume there’s any doubt {that a} membership like Liverpool may be very engaging to excellent gamers.
“He’s a participant with tempo. I bear in mind a objective he scored towards Chelsea. If he comes right here then he will likely be welcomed with open arms, however till it’s official, there’s no level talking about it.”
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Can Barcola reside as much as his price ticket and the inevitable expectation?
Van Dijk is understandably attempting to be diplomatic about not leaping the gun on the switch till it turns into official, however he appears to have discovered it laborious to cover his obvious delight that Barcola appears to be on his technique to Liverpool.
Whereas the Frenchman hasn’t been massively prolific for PSG (39 objectives in 152 appearances), Anfield chiefs evidently view him as able to changing into the elite winger to succeed Mo Salah within the long-term for the Reds.
The 23-year-old shouldn’t be burdened with the strain of attempting to reside as much as the Egyptian’s generational requirements, however the payment that he’s set to command will inevitably deliver with it an expectation to make a direct affect – ‘settling in’ time will likely be in scarce provide from sceptics who’d be ready for any alternative to jab the knife.
Though Van Dijk has voiced his pleasure about Barcola coming in at Liverpool, he’s additionally been fairly vocal about his disapproval of plans to promote Cody Gakpo to Manchester Metropolis, a potential switch which’d offset a lot of the goodwill that the France winger’s arrival would ordinarily generate among the many fan base.
We nonetheless want to attend for the PSG ahead to finish his medical and all the ultimate bits of paperwork earlier than we are able to correctly toast his transfer to Anfield, nevertheless it’s obvious from the captain’s remarks how standard an addition he’d be to the dressing room.
Let’s hope that, in time, his identify is spoken by Reds supporters in tones as reverential as these with which the legendary Salah is recalled.
