Liverpool beat Man Utd to Gakpo in £37m deal
United had been viewed as leading the race for Gakpo, who has scored nine goals and produced 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie matches for PSV this season
Liverpool Monday night agreed a £37 million move for Cody Gakpo, beating Manchester United in the race for the Holland forward.
Negotiations with PSV Eindhoven progressed swiftly and the medical may take place in the next 24 hours. The fee could rise to £44 million if player and club bonuses are met.
If the transfer is completed it will bolster Jürgen Klopp’s options after the injuries to Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota.
Gakpo, 23, plays on the left and enhanced his reputation at the World Cup with three goals in five appearances as Holland reached the quarter-finals before losing to Argentina.
Securing Champions League qualification next season is now Liverpool’s priority, an aim helped by their 3-1 win away to Aston Villa as the Premier League resumed today, and Klopp hinted after the game at the possibility of bringing in reinforcements.
“We have two long-term injuries up front,” the Liverpool manager said. “Last January, Luis Díaz came in which was very helpful then. Will we do something similar this time? If it was a positive move — why not?”
Virgil van Dijk, Gakpo’s Holland team-mate, said of the news: “Hopefully the injured players can come back soon, and hopefully we can welcome some new players at our football club. We will see. I think that quality is always welcome at Liverpool.”
Díaz will be out until March after undergoing knee surgery following a setback in his rehabilitation from the initial injury that was sustained in October. In addition, Jota is facing a lengthy rehabilitation from a serious calf problem that has already sidelined him since October.
United had been viewed as leading the race for Gakpo, who has scored nine goals and produced 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie matches for PSV this season.
However, the interest of Erik ten Hag’s side prompted Liverpool to act, with the situation similar to the way they gazumped Tottenham Hotspur last January to sign Díaz from Porto.
Arsenal, the Premier League leaders, had also shown interest with Gabriel Jesus sidelined for a lengthy period after sustaining a knee injury that required surgery when playing for Brazil at the World Cup.
PSV had wanted to keep Gakpo until the summer, but coach Ruud van Nistelrooy conceded the level of interest in the player meant a deal could happen in this window.
“If I have the choice, I prefer the summer but it can also be now,” Van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker, said. “There comes a time when you can’t say ‘no’.
“It is wonderful how he has showcased himself. I enjoyed watching him [at the World Cup]. He deserves this because of how he has behaved, how he has continued to work and perform.
“I’ve been able to help him from very close by and that makes me proud. I’ll give him his path when the time comes.”
