Cody Gakpo has been told why he should ignore an approach from Manchester United and why a move to Liverpool would be best for his career going forwards.
The PSV Eindhoven star is one of the world’s most in-demand stars, having catapulted himself into the world-class status. He plundered in an impressive 21 goals and weighed in with 15 assists last season in earning the Eredivisive Player of the Year gong. That led to transfer interest from United, with Erik ten Hag looking to take Gakpo to Old Trafford.
Their interest ultimately cooled as United’s pursuit for Antony began to accelerate. And their decision to shelve plans to sign Gakpo almost saw Leeds prise him from their grasp and towards Elland Road. Indeed, a move to West Yorkshire may well have gone through had Leeds structured the deal a little more favourably.
Ultimately, though, Gakpo decided to back himself by staying at PSV and proving the 2021/22 campaign was not a one-off. And it seems the decision has paid off handsomely with the forward already reaching 29 goal contributions this season already.
As such, demand for the 15 goal star has rarely been higher.
United are reportedly stepping up their plans to sign him in January as a result of parting ways with Cristiano Ronaldo. And while not a direct replacement for the Portuguese, Monday’s Transfer Gossip claims they are increasingly confident of securing his signing.
The package for Gakpo is likely to come in at around the £45m mark. However, for a player of his abilities, there seems a widespread belief that it would be money well spent.
Cody Gakpo urged to make transfer to Liverpool
As a result, though, United are far from the only suitors for Gakpo.
Liverpool are also reportedly keeping a close watch on developments.
As a result, former Liverpool player Ryan Babel believes a move to Anfield would be the right move for the 23-year-old.
And were a switch to Merseyside not to come off, Babel believes another suitor in Arsenal are also better suited for the Dutchman.
“We’re seeing a lot of interest in Gakpo around Europe and a lot of rumours about what he does next,” Babel told The Athletic. “He’s 23 and I’m curious to see if PSV can hold onto him until the end of the season.
“They are third in the Eredivisie but three points off the top. If they want to win the league they will need to keep him as he’s assisting, he’s scoring, and he’s always involved with his team’s attacks.
“You see him linked to clubs in England, such as Manchester United. Everyone has the right price so let’s see how he develops in the tournament. He has shown enough quality that he is ready for the next step, whether it’s in January or next summer.”
PSV star handed transfer advice
Discussing his next move, Babel is urging Jurgen Klopp to try bring him to Anfield. Failing that, the 35-year-old former Reds star believes a move to Arsenal should be an option.
“As a Liverpool fan, I would tell him to go to Liverpool if they make an approach,” he added. “Arsenal would also be an incredible team for him, with the current manager and the project that they’re building. He has to follow his heart.”
Wherever he ends up, there are no doubts that Gakpo will be an exciting addition to the Premier League. His record in the Eredivisie is phenomenal and it will be interesting to see if he can come close to maintaining those standards in England.
