Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has called for the supporters to be patient with new signing Cody Gakpo.
The Reds officially secured the services of the Netherlands forward this week, despite the player being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in the last few weeks.
Gakpo enjoyed a superb first half of the season for PSV Eindhoven, where he bagged 15 goals and 18 assists while he also scored three goals for the Dutch at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Read: Gakpo: I look forward to playing with Liverpool star
Van Dijk is delighted to have his countryman at Anfield, but insists he must be given time to adapt.
"Hopefully [he brings] a lot. A good player, good boy and obviously I know how it is to come in January," Van Dijk told Sky Sports.
"We have to give him time, I'm very sure the Liverpool fans will give it time, we're family and the real ones will always back him. He has to keep his head down, no matter what happens, fight, enjoy the moment and be important for the football club."
Van Dijk also played down suggestions that he had a big role to play in Gakpo moving to Liverpool.
"No that was over exaggerated [his role]," he added.
"I spoke to him, I can only say good things because I'm here, enjoying my time. We've been very successful but the manager said it as well, if it was me it was an easy decision to make, I didn't need convincing. If there was any questions, I answered them honestly."
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