Gakpo to Liverpool and What it Means for Manchester United

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Manchester United have long been linked with a move for Dutch forward, Cody Gakpo. A move could have happened in the summer but Gakpo stayed with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

However, his performances at the 2022 World Cup have increased the interest in Gakpo and Manchester United have been strongly linked with a move in January.

Just as the Red Devils appeared to be in pole position to sign the forward, Liverpool have stepped into the race. Jurgen Klopp is keen to add to his attacking options with injuries to some key players and on Boxing Day, while games were being played in the Premier League, Liverpool were announced as the club closest to singing the Dutchman.

The fee to bring the World Cup star to Anfield is expected to be between 40m and 50m euros. Such is the belief the deal will be concluded, PSV Eindhoven released a statement on their social media channels explaining the departure of Gakpo to Liverpool.

The statement read, “The PSV management completed the negotiations on Boxing Day and gave Gakpo permission to travel to England.”

At the 2022 World Cup, Gakpo scored in all 3 of the group games against Senegal, Ecuador, and Qatar. Prior to the World Cup, Gakpo was in good form for his club and netted 9 goals in addition to 12 assists in the Eredivisie. Gakpo also has 3 goals and 2 assists in the Europa League this season, so he is a player in form.

Liverpool are without the services of forwards Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota due to long term injuries, so Gakpo is likely to go straight into the starting XI for Liverpool as soon has he is cleared to join the club in January.

The news of the Gakpo transfer comes as a shock to Manchester United fans, as it seemed certain he was going to Old Trafford.

The fact he now seems set to join Liverpool brings back memories of the pursuit involving Darwin Núñez, with Manchester United heavily linked with the former Benfica striker.

However, Núñez eventually moved to Anfield and left Manchester United without a new striker for the beginning of the season.

With Ronaldo gone, Manchester United need a new striker and Erik ten Hag knows this, even if it is to simply boost the numbers in his squad. Manchester United are still in four competitions this season and there are a lot of games to play.

However, the Dutch manager will know he cannot afford to bring in a stop-gap player, as has been the case in recent years.

Manchester United need a quality centre forward and with that being the case, missing out on Gakpo may not be a terrible thing.

Gakpo can play as a central striker but he is better coming into central areas from the flank.

Joao Felix, Álvaro Morata, and Memphis Depay have all been linked with a move to Manchester United, with the latter possibly making a return to the club he left in 2017 to join Lyon.