PSV Eindhoven talisman Cody Gakpo admits he could have joined Premier League duo Leeds United or Southampton during a ‘stressful’ end to the summer transfer window, speaking to The Times.
No player in Europe, not even the irrepressible Erling Haaland, has quite so many goal involvements in 2022/23 than Cody Gakpo. And, OK, Excelsior, Volendam and Emmen are hardly elite opposition. But whatever the league, whatever the opposition, 13 goals and 11 assists from just 18 games is a remarkable return at any level.
The hope, as far as PSV are concerned, is that Gakpo sticks around until the summer as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side look to end Ajax’s domestic stranglehold and take home their first Eredivisie title since 2018. January is likely to see plenty of nails bitten in Endhoven, then, with the likes of Leeds and Manchester United – two sides who tried to sign Gakpo before September’s deadline – expected to come calling again.
Cody Gakpo could have joined Leeds, Southampton or Manchester United
“I was close to leaving,” the £40 million-rated Dutch international explains. “I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United.
“In the end, the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame for me and my development. Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world. But also (a shame) for PSV because to transfer a player to Manchester United is a good thing for the club.
“(In the final week of the window) I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end, I stayed. But it was a stressful period.”
There is a nagging feeling that the Gakpo ship has sailed for Leeds and Southampton now; an already highly-rated footballer taking his game to a whole new level since deadline day came and went.
Gakpo and Leeds reportedly have an agreement on personal terms. But the 23-year-old captain is now aiming higher than a side sitting 15th in the Premier League.
“(Leeds’ offer for Gakpo) was £30 million plus £13 (million in bonuses),” explains PSV CEO Marcel Brands. “For example, we would get six million if they qualified for the Champions League. This was the best offer and we all said no to that.
“I can say with my hand on my heart that there has been no offer for Cody to which the management or the supervisory board said: ‘we must do this’.”
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