Van Dijk sends Liverpool chiefs transfer message with Iraola in agreement

Virgil van Dijk wants to see Liverpool make 'quality' signings in the final week of the transfer window. It comes after Reds boss Andoni Iraola promised fans that the club will 'definitely' add to their squad before next Monday's 11pm deadline, having admitted in pre-season that he needed more options.

Liverpool have only made one permanent signing this summer in the form of Victor Munoz, with Ronald Araujo's move from Barcelona only a loan and their £60million deal for Jeremy Jacquet being agreed with Rennes back in February. Iraola has been desperate to sign a winger all window, with Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola top of his shortlist.

But with PSG demanding £145million, Liverpool are being forced to consider alternatives. The Reds saw two bids for Brighton star Yankuba Minteh rejected last week, the latest of which was £60m.

Speaking after Liverpool's dramatic 2-2 draw away to Newcastle on Sunday, Van Dijk affirmed that he has 'full trust' in the club to get their recruitment right The Reds captain also made it clear that he and his team-mates need to shoulder the responsibility for improving on last season's 'very unacceptable' campaign.

FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE! Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Get our comprehensive football coverage, with news, updates, opinions, analysis and everything that matters to you, straight to your inbox.

To get it, it's a quick and easy one-two:

1. Head THIS WAY

"Everyone wants to see quality arrive regardless," Van Dijk said. "I fully trust the club and the board to make the right decisions, that's the only thing I can say. Let's see what they do.

"Regardless of what happens, we are Liverpool and we have to give everything. For us, we have to show a reaction from last year. We have nothing to prove to the outside world, in my opinion. It is to ourselves. The way we train, the way we approach games, it is down to us to show a reaction.

"Last year it was very unacceptable, but that was last year. I don't want to talk about that - we are looking forward and looking to improve. Hopefully, next week it will be very close to what [Iraola] wants us to do."

Having snatched a point at Newcastle in their first outing, Liverpool continue in the Premier League with a home game against Nottingham Forest in Saturday's early kick-off. And Van Dijk knows that their new manager will make sure they've put in the hard yards on the training ground first.

Who should Liverpool sign before the transfer window closes? Let us know your pick in the comments section.

"Like I say, we work on it every day," the Dutchman reiterated. "We do long hours on the training ground and that will only benefit all of us, including our loyal and trusted supporters. It is so early in the season that if we start panicking regardless of what could have happened today then we won't be in a good place.

"It is down to us to make sure we improve quickly, and that is what we try to do on the training ground. There were some good things, but also things that we have to improve.

"I think if we have to answer questions from the outside world, I don't think that's on us. What we have to do as players at Liverpool Football Club is be much better than we were last year. That is the responsibility everyone has to feel.

"Obviously, there are some changes that are happening in the club and that is clearly visible. Some players have left, some players have come to the club, and it is down to us to be as good as we can as soon as possible, and challenge on all four fronts, hopefully as soon as possible.

"I think it is absolutely normal in any type of profession or work that if you come in new and you have new plans and ideas that it takes a bit of time. It is down to us to do it as soon as we can. We want to improve, we want to win, we want to do better. That is what we are going to try and do from tomorrow."

Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts.