Jamie Carragher Talks Van Dijk and Coutinho

Whatever your feelings on the transfer window so far, the biggest concerns surround the futures of Philippe Coutinho and Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool have long been expected to keep Coutinho and add Van Dijk as part of Jürgen Klopp's grand plan for his third season in charge. Blocking Barcelona and satisfying Southampton will be integral to continued progress under Klopp.

Today's transfer request—unnecessary for a move to Chelsea or Manchester City—should be the start of a final push that sees Southampton's captain and star player end up at Anfield. The 26-year-old would be quite a coup as the standout defender, by some distance it must be said, outside the top six.

While keeping Coutinho for at least one more season is to be welcomed, it really should be expected. It cannot be held up as a sign of a successful summer transfer window, but the Brazilian may very well find another gear in central midfield as he showed in the closing games of last season. Inconsistency will still need to be ironed out, however, for the magician to truly reach the next level.

Surveying all these events is Jamie Carragher who shared his thoughts on both players' futures. It appears that Southampton are fighting a battle that simply cannot be won in modern football.

"The frustration for Southampton is if Chelsea, Liverpool or Manchester City come in for your player, he will want to go," Carragher said in discussion with another former Red, Jamie Redknapp. "There's a football chain, Southampton with Van Dijk, Liverpool with Coutinho and Barcelona, this is just how football works now."

Despite acknowledging the existence of a footballing food chain that Liverpool belong to, Carragher believed that his former club would hold onto the Brazilian superstar. There were, as always, words of caution for the road that lay ahead with Coutinho and Klopp's faith in his existing squad.

"I don't think he will go. But he will want to go and wear that shirt. Who wouldn't want to go? It's Barcelona," the Sky Sports pundit pointed out. "If Liverpool sold him for £100 million now, who do they go out and buy? How do you possibly replace him?

"I think Liverpool will have Coutinho for another 12 months. There's not a chance they are selling this summer. Liverpool don't need money, they have a lot there to spend, but this window has not gone how they wanted it to.

"Coutinho wants to go to Barcelona, 100%, but there's nothing wrong with that. I don't think he will force it though. If Liverpool lose Philippe Coutinho this summer, there will be riots. The fans will turn on the owners. I hope I'm not saying this in three months, but has Klopp had too much faith in the squad? Milner, Moreno - is that moving forward?"