Van Dijk expressed his views following Liverpool’s significant spending in the past summer transfer period.
Liverpool is entering the new season with high expectations but also facing many challenges, after undergoing what is considered the “biggest overhaul” in years during the summer transfer window. The Anfield club spent £415 million on player acquisitions while earning £187 million from player sales, resulting in a net spend of £228 million, a record figure in the club’s history.
Although the season started with positive results, inconsistent form caused “The Reds” to lose three consecutive matches across all competitions before the October international break. New signings like Isak and Wirtz are still adapting, while the defense, led by Virgil van Dijk, has repeatedly made mistakes.
Facing waves of criticism, captain Van Dijk remained calm. He emphasized that the recent busy transfer window was not about “increasing numbers” but rather about “replacing the quality lost” after many key players departed.
“The club has done very well in bringing in new signings. But I don’t see it as adding depth, because we lost many important players like Lucho (Luis Diaz), Darwin Nunez, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott.
They were quality players, and we had to replace them with people of equivalent caliber. The transfer market today is very tough, but the club has done an excellent job,” Van Dijk told Reach Sport.
The Dutch defender believes the key now is to rebuild team cohesion in the dressing room and restore the winning mentality. “Now it’s time for us to work hard to build a strong squad that can compete on all fronts. The goal is to keep winning, but that’s never easy”, he said.
Van Dijk also acknowledged that defending the Premier League title is an extremely tough task: “After winning in 2020, we couldn’t repeat it. Man City might be able to, but that requires intense focus and high spirit”
Under new coach Arne Slot, Liverpool signed nine first-team players, including notable names like Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike. Conversely, 10 players left, including key figures such as Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played important roles in last season’s Premier League triumph.
When asked about his future, Van Dijk affirmed he wants to continue upholding the “spirit of Jurgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson” that he has learned as the foundation for all victories. “Liverpool must always aim to be the biggest club in England, and that can only be achieved through relentless effort”, the 34-year-old captain concluded.