Manchester United are said to be the only club in talks with PSV Eindhoven about a January transfer for Dutch attacker Cody Gakpo.

The speculation surrounding the 23-year-future old’s has increased after he starred for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup, scoring three times in five appearances and assisting his team to the final eight.

Meanwhile, ahead of the competition, Gakpo was in fine form for PSV, scoring 13 goals and registering 17 assists in 24 appearances.

The Dutchman is under contract with his current club until June 2026, but it is expected that if the right price is offered, he will be allowed to leave during the winter market.

Man United are one of several clubs linked with the forward, with Arsenal and Real Madrid also said to be interested, but according to Football Insider, Erik ten Hag’s side are the only ones to have held talks with PSV about a mid-season transfer.

The 20-time English champions are in’regular contact’ with Gakpo’s representatives, according to the report, and are working to bring him to Old Trafford in January.

Ten Hag will allegedly be given a healthy transfer budget to improve the squad at the start of 2023, with the Dutchman targeting three new players, including Gakpo.

The forward has now scored 55 goals and assisted 50 times in 159 appearances for PSV. After progressing through the Dutch giants’ youth system, he made his first-team debut in 2018.

PSV’s director of football, Marcel Brands, recently provided an update on the attacker’s future.

“You have to be realistic.”

When it comes to Cody Gakpo and his price tag, Brands believes that only 10 to 12 clubs in Europe can afford him.

“Amounts have not been discussed, but Cody would like to go if the right club comes along,” says the agent. Those arrangements had been made prior to my arrival. In any case, it must be a PSV record transfer. Then you’ll know which way to go.

“In the media it seems like all the clubs are lining up, but the reality is that we don’t know anything about interest or anything yet. It’s serene. I spoke with Cody, and he informed me that he will be taking a 10-day vacation. If there is something going on, Cody or his management may be aware of it, but we are not.”

Any transfer that exceeds the €45 million (£38.6 million) paid by Napoli to PSV for Hirving Lozano in the summer of 2019 would be a club record.

Gakpo was heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford during the recent transfer window and spoke with Ten Hag about a possible move to Manchester.

However, the forward ended up staying in Holland, with Manchester United instead concentrating their efforts on signing Ajax’s Brazilian attacker Antony.