Liverpool have reportedly ‘signed’ Cody Gakpo ahead of Man Utd in a deal worth up to €50m ahead of the January transfer window.
Well, f*ck. This one has come out of nowhere.
An hour or so after Liverpool beat Unai Emery’s Aston Villa 3-1 on Boxing Day, it has been revealed that they have ‘signed’ Gakpo ahead of January.
The winger was targeted by Leeds United, Man Utd and Southampton in the summer and at that stage, he was valued at around £25m.
The deal did not get completed but he has put that disappointment behind him to shine for PSV and the Netherlands in recent months.
Gakpo has been in sensational scoring form for PSV domestically and in the Europa League. He was then one of the standout players at the World Cup as he netted three goals in five games for the Netherlands.
His recent showings have fuelled talk of him leaving PSV in January with a transfer to the Premier League likely.
Man Utd were keen on him in the summer but they ended up signing Antony instead from PSV.
It was recently claimed that United’s hierarchy have green-lit a move for Gakpo in January after Erik ten Hag personally requested that they sign him.
The Red Devils have been left hanging though as Liverpool have been working away in the shadows to get this deal completed from under their noses.
The Athletic are reporting that Jurgen Klopp’s side have now ‘reached an agreement’ to recruit the forward.
The fee for Gakpo is ‘between €40-50m and the 23-year-old has been given permission by his club to travel to England for a medical ahead of completing the switch’.
The Dutch side confirmed this news via Instagram on Boxing Day night: “PSV and Liverpool have reached an agreement on the proposed transfer of Cody Gakpo.
“The 23-year-old attacker will leave for England imminently where he will be subjected to the necessary formalities ahead of the completion of the transfer.”
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has added that Gakpo’s move to Liverpool ‘is signed’.
His contract is ‘fully agreed’ and he will ‘travel to England’ to complete his medical later this week.
Ex-Tottenham and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson thinks Gakpo will be a “real hit” at Liverpool.
“I think he would be a real hit in the Premier League, especially at a club like Liverpool,” Robinson told Football Insider.
“The Eredivisie is renowned for unearthing talented players and Gakpo could be the next. I think there is three or four players in that league that could move across to the Premier League and make an impact. Gakpo is certainly one of them.
“I’ve watched a fair bit of him this season and I think he’s good enough to play for a top-four club. He’s an exciting forward and he’s at the right age.”
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