Cody Gakpo marked what could be his final PSV Eindhoven appearance with a hat-trick as Southampton close in on a club-record £30 million deal for the seemingly Premier League-bound forward, per 90Min.
The Dutch international has been linked with what feels like almost every team in England’s top flight at some point over the last 12 months.
Gakpo wanted to join Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. Newcastle, Arsenal, Liverpool Everton, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest have shown an interest too, at one point or another. He even admitted that his agent had held talks with Leeds.
Few would have expected Southampton to win the race, however. And not just because the Saints have never really been part of the discussion until now. Gakpo, reportedly a target for Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the start of the window, appeared to be a player well out of Ralph Hasenhuttl’s reach.
Will Southampton seal deal for PSV star Cody Gakpo?
That was, however, until news filtered through, via 90Min, that Southampton had submitted a club-record £30 million. They are hopeful of sealing the most unexpected and ambitious of deals before England’s 11pm deadline.
And if this was Gakpo’s final display before he swaps one red-and-white kit for another, well what a way to bow out; three goals in PSV’s 7-1 thumping of Eredivisie newcomers FC Volendam, including a wonderful solo effort, the kind of which he has made his trademark during a couple of outstanding campaigns.
“Time is ticking away. A decision may arrive quickly. Let’s wait and see,” PSV coach Ruud Van Nistelrooy said at full-time.
The Manchester United legend then expressed his belief that Gakpo can still be convinced to stick around. That is despite PSV’s early exit from the Champions League at Rangers’ hand.
“If Gakpo does leave unexpectedly, then I will think about whether I will be disappointed. But I I am really convinced that we will keep everyone on board.”
Piet Buter, a scout working on behalf of the Saints, confirmed the club’s interest in Gakpo earlier this week. St Mary’s, he said, was the ‘ideal’ destination for a forward in need of an ‘intermediate’ step.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
