Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is pleased that Rafael Camacho has made the return to Sporting this summer. The 19-year-old managed just two appearances with the Reds during the course of the campaign and that urged him to make the return to Portugal rather than considering an extension with the Merseyside outfit.

Speaking to O Jogo, Van Dijk said that Camacho has plenty of potential within himself and he is pleased that the youngster will continue his development with Sporting, he told: "He is still young, has a lot to learn. He has been in Sporting's youth set-up and probably feels like returning home. I am happy for him and I hope he is happy. He has quality and he knows what he has to do, because we all know that there are many players who have quality, but then they lack the rest."

Camacho was handed with only two appearances during the previous campaign and both of those came in the wing-back options. As such, he was far from pleased with the manager’s decision and he happened to criticise Jurgen Klopp after scoring a hat-trick for the Under-23s while playing as part of the front three.

Despite this, the Reds appeared keen on extending his contract beyond the summer of 2020 but the standoff meant that they had to eventually accept a fee of around £5m to sanction his departure to Sporting. Meanwhile, Klopp’s side have made no major signings for the summer transfer window and that has brought about frustration from a section of the supporters.

Klopp has been playing mind games in the media without providing a clue on potential arrivals and the next fortnight should reveal whether the Reds are planning any high-profile purchases ahead of next season. The European champions have signed just teenage defender Sepp van den Berg from PEC Zwolle this summer.