Liverpool are set to beaт Manchester United to the £44 million ($53m) signing of PSV forward Cody Gakpo.

WHAT’S HAPPENING?  Liverpool have beaтen out top rivals to the World Cup star with the Netherlands, further fortifying an aттack that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in Europe.

WHAT DID THEY SAY? Cody Gakpo will be moving from PSV to Liverpool FC, according to an official statement issued by PSV. “PSV and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement on the imminent transfer of Cody Gakpo,” the statement read. “The aттacker, who is 23 years old, will immediately go for England, where he will go through the necessary formalities to finish the transfer.” Both teams have refrained from making any public statements regarding the transfer fee. Marcel Brands, the general manager of PSV, remarked that “but this is a record transfer for PSV.

LiverpoolTransfersC. GakpoPremier LeaguePSVEredivisie

“The PSV management completed the transfer on Boxing Day and gave Gakpo permission to travel to England.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE:  Gakpo had been identified as a potential target for the summer, but Liverpool accelerated their interest having been informed that PSV were open to selling the 23-year-old in January, and with their need for aттacking reinforcements heightened by injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota.

AND WHAT’S MORE:  United were keen to land Gakpo, but Liverpool’s negotiations with PSV reached an advanced stage over the last 72 hours, and the Reds are now ready to complete a massive deal.

STORY IN THREE PHOTOS:

THE VERDICT:  “Hopefully we can welcome some new players…”

After Liverpool’s 3-1 victory over Aston Villa, Virgil Van Dijk performed his post-match interview. It was obvious that he was aware of anything at the time. Despite the facт that it is not the new midfielder that everyone has been anticipating the Reds to go for in January, a trade for Cody Gakpo would be a welcome boost for a squad that is in need of an injection of talent and freshness, provided that the transaction is finalized.

The Netherlands international player was one of the tournament’s shining lights in Qatar and has been in dazzling form for PSV. Qatar hosted the 20th FIFA World Cup. Importantly, he is capable of operating across the forward line, providing the kind of versatility that Liverpool craves. His age, 23, means that there is room for improvement as well, just like there is with the club’s last four aттacking signings, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, Fabio Carvalho, and Diogo Jota.

It is believed that Liverpool would have made a move for Gakpo in the summer, but the club has brought forward its interest in the player, similar to what they did with Luis Diaz a year ago. They were able to beaт Spurs to that signing, but Manchester United has won this particular competition. Therefore, if they are successful in crossing the finish line, it will be even more satisfying for Klopp and the rest of the team.

WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?  Before they can bring in the Dutch aттacker, the Reds will come up against Leicester in their final Premier League match of 2022 on December 30.