Liverpool's Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk hopes that the club will be able to keep his compatriot Cody Khakpo, in light of reports that Manchester City, the 10-time English Premier League champion, is close to signing him before the transfer market closes on Tuesday.
It seems that Khakpo may decline in the ranking of attacking options at Anfield after the arrival of Bradley Barkola from Paris Saint-Germain for a deal that could be worth up to $166 million. Which makes the Frenchman the second most expensive player in the history of the Premier League.
During three and a half years with Liverpool, Khakpo scored 51 goals, and played a prominent role in the club achieving its twentieth title in the local league in the 2024-2025 season.
The 27-year-old player started the current season well, after scoring one goal and making another while Liverpool tied in its first two matches under the leadership of its new Spanish coach, Andoni Iraola, against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, with the same score, 2-2.
But it seems that Liverpool is open to benefiting financially from selling Khakpo, at a time when reports indicate that City is willing to pay about $102 million to include him.
"He is a high-quality player, and I think we should keep quality players, but let's see what the next three days bring about," Van Dijk said.
He added: “It is quite clear that I want him to stay, not only because he is a special player; “But because he is also a friend of mine, and I think he will be very important to us.”
Barkola was attracted to the idea of playing in England, coming from the European champions, despite the difficult period that the Reds went through, after they finished last season in fifth place.
But Van Dijk is confident that Liverpool will always remain an attractive destination for the best players in the world, and he said: “I think Liverpool is still one of the biggest clubs in the world. Of course we all know that we are going through a transition, and you either want to be part of it or you don't. As for me, I am part of it now.”
He added: “He (Barcola) is a very good player. If he comes, he will be welcomed with open arms, but as long as the matter has not been resolved yet, there is no point in talking about it now.”
Galatasaray signed Portuguese striker Rafael Leao from AC Milan on a four-year contract, according to what the Turkish Football League champion announced on Sunday.
The Turkish champion for the last four seasons, and the qualifier for the Champions League, explained that he paid 38 million euros ($44 million) to include the 27-year-old striker, who was also of interest to the English club Aston Villa.
The Portuguese international (49 international matches and 6 goals), who was welcomed by a crowd of fans on Saturday in Istanbul, will receive an annual salary of 10 million euros ($11.6 million), according to Galatasaray.
According to the Istanbul City Club, “20 percent of the profits made from the next sale of the player will be transferred to Milan.”
The player, who graduated from the Portuguese Sporting Academy, will play alongside Nigerian Victor Osimhen, the team's top scorer, and former Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané.
Rafa moved to Milan in 2019 after one season with French club Lille, and scored 80 goals in 291 matches in all competitions.
But after winning the Italian League title and the Best Player award in 2022, and then setting his record in one season in the league (15 goals in the 2022-2023 season), he did not exceed the ten goal barrier after that, and he lost his place in the attack of the seven-time Champions League winner.
On Friday, he bid farewell to his teammates who faced Venezia in the local league, as his compatriot Goncalo Ramos, who this summer became the most expensive deal in Milan’s history at 74 million euros ($86 million), scored his first goal.
He said in the mixed zone, according to statements reported by the Italian press, “It is a difficult moment. I said goodbye to my colleagues after 7 years, and the time has come to say goodbye.”
English club Tottenham has reached an agreement to sign Senegalese striker Eleman Ndiaye, Everton striker, according to what was confirmed by the British news agency (PA Media) today (Sunday).
Brazilian striker Richarlison, Tottenham's striker, is expected to move to Everton, his former club, in a separate deal.
Tottenham is seeking to strengthen its attacking options before the summer transfer period closes the day after tomorrow (Tuesday). Ndiaye may become the team's latest signing after signing the Manchester City duo: Brazilian Savio and Egyptian Omar Marmoush, earlier this week.
Everton tried to keep Ndiaye, who played 90 minutes during the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth yesterday (Saturday), but he rejected several offers to renew his contract over the past year.
Ndiaye, 26 years old, joined Everton in 2024 from Marseille, after a short period he spent with the French club, and scored 17 goals during 73 matches with the English team.
If the deal is completed, Richarlison may be the alternative; Everton is interested in bringing the Brazilian player back to its ranks after a successful period he spent with the club over 4 seasons.
Richarlison left Everton in 2022 to join Tottenham, under the leadership of coach Antonio Conte, for 60 million pounds sterling, but he suffered a difficult period with the London team.
Tottenham coach Roberto De Cerpi revealed that the Brazilian player, who has one year remaining on his contract with Tottenham, was removed from the squad for the match that the team lost by two unanswered goals to Newcastle United yesterday (Saturday), after he asked to leave “many times.”
"Richarlison, I don't know," De Cerpi said. He has said many times that he wants to leave. If they want to leave, they must provide a solution, a financial solution to the club, and then they can leave, and we will find other players.”
