‘Better for him’: Director says £50m star was right to turn down Leeds move

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Cody Gakpo is benefitting from staying at PSV Eindhoven after turning down the chance to join Premier League duo Leeds United and Southampton during the final days of the summer transfer window, former technical director John de Jong tells NOS. 

As the PSV talisman picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and thumped a blink-and-you’d-miss-it shot into the back of the Ecuador net during Friday’s 1-1 World Cup draw, one wonders how Ralph Hasenhuttl must have been thinking. 

The Austrian was sacked at St Mary’s just over two months after Southampton missed out on one of the most in-form forwards in European football. Had Gakpo arrived on deadline day, would the Austrian still be in situ on the South Coast? 

We can only hypothesise, of course. But one suspects a player of his talent and ruthlessness would certainly have given Hasenhuttl a timely helping hand.

Gakpo would now cost around £50 million; his price-tag rising considerably after a pair of goals on the biggest of stages. Furthermore, there is an acceptance now that the free-scoring 23-year-old is set for a, with all due respect, rather bigger move. 

World Cup star Cody Gakpo turned down Southampton and Leeds United

“I think it’s very nice how he is developing,” explains De Jong, who left PSV in mid-September. “He continues the form he started at PSV this season. He is very effective and decisive, also at the World Cup.

“I really enjoy watching him. It is especially great for Cody Gakpo that he is doing so well, but ultimately also for PSV and Dutch football.”

Manchester United are now the clear frontrunners to secure Gakpo’s signature; ESPN reporting that Erik Ten Hag wants the 6ft 2ins forward through the door as soon as possible following the acrimonious departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Gakpo, by his own addition, had talks with Ten Hag over the summer (The Times). He also held talks with Southampton and Leeds, the latter club offering an initial £30 million. 

“He has been waiting for that transfer to (Manchester) United for a long time. It seemed to be coming, but it fell through a week before the end of the transfer window,” De Jong adds.

“In the end, he still had two options to go to the Premier League (Leeds and Southampton). I think it’s really better for Cody that he stayed. You can see at the World Cup now that his form is very good.”