PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo is ‘definitely worth £50 million and could thrive in the Premier League amid interest from Liverpool and Arsenal, former Netherlands international Rene Van der Kerkhof tells VP.
At this stage, Gakpo’s departure from the Eredivsie giants feels like less a case of ‘if’ and more ‘when’. Simply put, a summer exit is starting to feel inevitable for a big fish rapidly outgrowing a relatively small pond.
And while the likes of Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have made their interest known, the most likely destination, at this stage, appears to be the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have already held talks with Gakpo’s agent, making it clear that they are ready to pay a ‘significant’ transfer fee for a player valued by PSV at around £33 million (AD).
That’s a lot of dough for a 22-year-old unproven in Europe’s top leagues.
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But, according to Van der Kerkhof, £33 million for a player of Gakpo’s potential is a bargain in today’s market.
Cody Gakpo; A £33m bargain?
“That’s very simple: fifty million. He is definitely worth it,” the legendary PSV midfielder said when asked how much the Eindhoven-born forward should cost.
“I think he is one of the best players that PSV has produced in recent years. He has the appearance of a top player.
“He has a lot of footballing qualities. He can play well on the left and right (wing), but I would put him in the number ten position.
“I think Gakpo can certainly succeed in England. But I also think Bayern is a very good club for him. He thinks so too, I think.”
Despite producing 16 goals and 15 assists this term, Gakpo is far from the finished article just yet.
Van der Kerkhof believes that the PSV academy graduate could still improve his decision-making in the final third – he does have a tendency to try and do everything all on his own – while his recent injury record remains a concern.
“Real top players almost never get injured and are always fit. So we have to be careful in that regard,” Van der Kerkhof adds.
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