PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo has handed Manchester United and his other suitors a blow ahead of the January transfer window. Gakpo was expected to be at the forefront of several clubs’ attacking shortlists this winter after a stellar start to the season, but he looks set to remain in the Netherlands.
The 22-year-old winger was strongly linked with United, Leeds United and Southampton in the summer but remained at PSV after Erik ten Hag opted to splash £85million to reunite with Ajax’s Antony. And his stock has only risen this term, registering 13 goals and 17 assists in 23 games under Ruud van Nistelrooy.
His form and United’s potential search for attacking reinforcements amid uncertainty over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future have led to suggestions Ten Hag could go back in for Gakpo. However, he has hinted that he will be ready to pursue a new challenge at the end of the season rather than in January.
He told NOS: “I think at the end of this season, I will be ready to take that step. I feel like I was already that way at the beginning of this season, but after this season, I’m even more ready to take the next step.
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It would be an honour to play there [at Barcelona, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United or Real Madrid], but I also have to see what kind of team I can best achieve my goals.”
Gakpo is primarily a left-winger but has also operated as the central striker this season, a versatility that will appeal to Ten Hag. However, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho within his ranks, many supporters agreed with his decision to prioritise Antony in the summer.
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Whether United are interested next summer or not, Gakpo will likely have an illustrious choice of destinations if he continues in the same vein of relentless form. But his comments pour cold water on suggestions that he could arrive in the Premier League in January.
PSV set Gakpo’s asking price at around £40m at the start of the season, but the Dutch Eredivisie could feel obliged to raise that after his eye-catching exploits. And his stock could soar higher after the World Cup, given he’s likely to play a major role in Louis van Gaal’s plans in Qatar.
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