"What do you think? He's a quality player. I think we should keep quality players," the Liverpool captain said when asked how he felt about losing his teammate to Manchester City.
"Let's see what the next few days bring. I want him to stay not only because he's a quality player but also because he's a friend of mine. He's very important to us."
Gakpo has started both of Liverpool's Premier League matches so far this season, and any departure would need to be balanced by incoming reinforcements: Liverpool have made clear a sale only happens once a replacement winger - Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh have both been considered - is in place, on top of the imminent £123m arrival of Bradley Barcola, who has already landed in England and will undergo a medical before signing a five-year deal.
Van Dijk gave a warm assessment of Barcola despite the awkward timing alongside Gakpo's exit talks.
"He's a good player, that's the only thing I can say. I don't think there's any doubt that a club like Liverpool is very attractive to very good players," he said. "This is one of the biggest clubs in the world. We all know that we're going through a little bit of a transition.
"You either want to be a part of it or you don't. He's a player with pace. I remember a goal he scored against Chelsea. If he comes here then he will be welcomed with open arms."
The captain also used the moment to address Liverpool's uneven start more broadly, calling for greater consistency regardless of who arrives or leaves.
"Adding quality to the squad always makes a difference. Let's see what the next few days bring. After Tuesday we have to fight for everything with no regrets," he said.
"We have to score more, concede less, dominate more with and without the ball. Nottingham Forest have come here the last three seasons and remained unbeaten. That shouldn't happen. In all the years I've been at the club it hasn't happened. It's down to us to make sure we are a unit - every member of the squad together with our fans."