Manchester United will have to pay more for Cody Gakpo after PSV Eindhoven changed their price tag for the forward, according to reports. The Netherlands international is being linked with a move to Old Trafford as the summer transfer window creeps closer. However, if they can’t reinforce their attack with the 23-year-old, it’s possible Alvaro Morata will touch down instead.
Manchester United are on the lookout for a new forward following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club by mutual consent last month.
And with there no indication of when Jadon Sancho will return, having last featured for the club in October, the Red Devils are now looking to bolster their attack.
Gakpo is being strongly linked with a move to United, having come close to joining Erik ten Hag’s side back in the summer.
Now, according to ESPN, the Red Devils face having to pay more for the Netherlands international after PSV changed their asking price.
It’s said that, in the summer, United were quoted a fee of around £26million for the player – a relatively affordable amount for a club of their size and stature.
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But in the wake of Gakpo’s impressive World Cup campaign, where he scored three goals from five outings, PSV want closer to £44m instead.
That could be an issue for United, who overspent back in the summer after enduring a chastening start to the season.
The Red Devils had, prior to back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Brentford, only brought in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez.
But those losses sparked United into life, with Casemiro, Antony and Martin Dubravka then joining in the weeks that followed.
If United do fail to land Gakpo, as well as Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos, then it’s possible Morata will sign on the dotted line instead.
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The Spain international could leave Atletico Madrid, having previously spent two years away from the club at Serie A side Juventus.
And United’s interest in Morata is nothing new, having come close to recruiting him back in the summer of 2017.
That year, Jose Mourinho was keen to bring in a new hitman to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who was sidelined through injury at the time.
Morata expected to move to the club, even dying his hair red in anticipation of an unveiling.
But United then changed their minds, moving to bring in Romelu Lukaku from Everton for a fee of £75m instead.
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Who they end up signing remains to be seen, with the start of the January transfer window creeping closer.
Speaking earlier in the month, meanwhile, former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson expressed a belief Gakpo would be a good signing for United.
And he also suggested they use Donny van de Beek as part of a swap deal, too.
Eriksson said: “We’re talking about two very good players and I believe it could be a great deal for both parties. It would make perfect sense.
“Gakpo is a dynamic attacker and direct – just what United need – and for one reason or another Van de Beek just hasn’t been suited to England and the Premier League.
“Erik ten Hag knows all of these players and if he thinks a swap deal is a good idea then why not?”
United have previously raided PSV for four players over the years.
Jaap Stam, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ji-Sung Park all touched down when Sir Alex Ferguson ruled the roost, with the trio becoming heroes afterwards.
But United never saw the best of Memphis Depay following his transfer in 2015, with Louis van Gaal manager at the time.
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