Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders Arsenal scouted Cody Gakpo this weekend as PSV Eindhoven beat Eredivisie title rivals Ajax at the Johan Cryuff Arena, according to 90Min.
Not even Erling Haaland can keep up with Gakpo right now. And that’s saying something. With 13 goals and 17 assists already, the PSV talisman has a remarkable 30 goal involvements in just 23 games across all competitions so far this season. A tally pretty much unmatched across the entirety of the continent.
Consider the Eredivisie pond well-and-truly overgrown, thenm this very big fish ready for wider waters.
Gakpo admitted to The Times recently that Leeds United and Southampton tried to sign him over the summer.
The Dutch international now appears to have outgrown both sides, aiming higher than two clubs likely to be in a relegation battle for much of this term. Liverpool, Manchester United or Arsenal feel like a more fitting destination right now, with 90Min claiming that scouts on behalf of the Gunners were in attendance as PSV overtook Ajax at the top of the Eredivisie table on Sunday afternoon.
Could Cody Gakpo leave PSV Eindhoven for Arsenal?
“He is a good player and always finds a way in most games to have an influence, in terms of getting an assist or scoring a goal,” Robin Van Persie, who joined Arsenal from Feyenoord nearly two decades ago, says of Gakpo.
“He’s always dangerous (but) not really an out-and-out striker. (Gakpo) can play as a number 10, on the (left) wing, as a false striker or on the right wing. He has a good physique. He’s strong, fast and can dribble. An all-round player.”
Arsenal appear to be prioritising an exciting wide forward during the January transfer window, with recent concerns over Bukayo Saka’s fitness highlighting a lack of top-quality depth available to Arteta.
Gakpo will not come cheap at around £40 million. The 23-year-old is still far more affordable, however, than the likes of Shakhtar Donestk speedster Mykhaylo Mudryk. Shakhtar say it would take an offer in excess of £85 million to lure Mudryk away from the Ukrainian giants.
Orlando City’s Uruguay international Facundo Torres is another option. Ditto Jesper Lindstrom of Eintracht Frankfurt.
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