Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk makes statement on deadline day transfer

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has urged the club to STOP any Joe Gomez exit on deadline day. England international Gomez has been tipped to leave Anfield on Monday - especially if Marc Guehi arrives from Crystal Palace.

There had been suggestions over the weekend that the 28-year-old could be used as a potential makeweight in a deal for England centre-half Guehi. However, Liverpool did not want any deal made for Guehi that took Gomez to Selhurst Park as a makeweight. Yet they are now facing other interest in the ex-Charlton defender, who showed his quality in a substitute appearance during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Arsenal.

“It’s a very good question, because when he came on in the circumstances he is in personally, he was outstanding,” said Van Dijk. “Obviously I speak to him quite a lot, so I know it wasn’t easy, but that says a lot about him as a person, as a player, only appreciation. He’s a good friend of mine, I’m just pleased for him that he could do it today. Let’s see, hopefully he can do a lot more for us this season.

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“He’s my friend, of course I want him to stay. But it doesn’t work like that. I’m not the boss. It’s not a friendly business. It’s the highest world that we live in. Let’s see what happens. Of course I want him to stay, as a friend and as a player.”

Van Dijk was involved in his own deadline-day drama in 2015 when he joined Southampton from Celtic. But this year he will be an interested onlooker as Liverpool look to complete deals for Guehi and Alexander Isak - having finally agreed a £125m deal with Newcastle for the wantaway striker.

“I’ve been in an interesting one a few years ago,” he added. “But other than that, tomorrow morning (Monday) I leave early to go to Holland.

“When I’m done after 6ish I’ll probably know if anything is happening here. If not we crack on.”