Manchester United are expected to pursue a move for PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his squad at Old Trafford, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The forward has been on World Cup duty in Qatar this month for Louis van Gaal’s Oranje squad which reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Man Utd transfer news – Cody Gakpo
The Sun reports that PSV would demand £50m for Gakpo’s services in January despite the forward’s success on both the domestic and international stages.
O’Rourke previously told GiveMeSport that he doesn’t believe this asking price would deter the Red Devils, as the team had pursued the player in the summer before he improved his reputation at the World Cup.
In a recent press conference in Qatar, the Netherlands star declared that “everything is conceivable” in terms of his next step in his career, possibly indicating that a transfer to Old Trafford would be in the works.
And according to O’Rourke, Gakpo will be pursued by Manchester United in the coming year for a fair asking price of £50 million.
What has O’Rourke said about Man Utd and Gakpo?
The most important aspect about Cody Gakpo, according to O’Rourke, is that he is still a young player. In my opinion, he will continue to improve.
Therefore, in the current market, £50 million is not a bad price for a player like Gakpo who can play in multiple up-front positions.
He has a lot of support from Erik ten Hag, therefore Manchester United should still be interested in signing him.
Who is this ARGENTINA player?
Would Gakpo be a good signing for Man Utd?
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive conversation with Piers Morgan, the Portuguese forward’s contract was canceled, therefore ten Hag will be searching for a new forward to join his team.
Gakpo might be the top candidate to fill that void given his 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 club games so far this season, per Transfermarkt.
The 23-year-old forward has, however, been able to shine in the World Cup, scoring three goals in five appearances while helping van Gaal’s team advance to the quarterfinals before losing on penalties to Argentina.
He is the best-performing player for the Netherlands at the tournament, according to the average WhoScored rating for his performances in Qatar, which will undoubtedly have enhanced the Red Devils’ desire to finalize a deal for the attacker.
Although United had a sizable interest in the player before he traveled to the Middle East to compete on the largest platform in the world, Gakpo’s top-level performances will undoubtedly have persuaded Van Hag that he is the ideal choice for the club.