PSV Eindhoven are reportedly interested in signing Aston Villa winger Anwar El Ghazi as a potential replacement for Cody Gakpo, with Arsenal and Manchester United both chasing the winger.
According to the Eindhovens Dagblad, the Netherlands’ international is being viewed by PSV as an option to replace Gakpo this summer, with the Dutch side heading into the final week of the transfer window unsure if their star attacker will still be on their books come September 2nd.
With a reported price tag of £40m, Gakpo is one of the Eredivisie’s most prized assets, with both Arsenal and United reportedly interested in signing the Netherlands international as a late summer signing, and PSV look to have a plan in place should the 23-year-old depart for the Premier League in El Ghazi.
The Ajax academy graduate is an ideal player to replace Gakpo given the winger’s experience in the Dutch top-flight as well as the Premier League, with Villa also open to selling El Ghazi this summer with the attacker failing to impress Steven Gerrard, so much so that the forward was sent out on loan to Everton in January.
Hailed as an ‘incredible’ player by former Villa manager Dean Smith, El Ghazi has seemingly failed at every possible chance to win over Gerrard’s admiration, and with PSV now interested in signing the 27-year-old, the Villa Park side could finally strike a deal to offload the winger for good in the coming days.
Indeed, whilst Villa could do with El Ghazi as attacking depth, it is clear that the forward has no future at the club with Gerrard at the helm, and a return to Holland with PSV as a potential replacement for Gakpo could be an outstanding move for the Netherlands international in a FIFA World Cup year.
El Ghazi should jump at the chance to sign for PSV
With El Ghazi not making a single Premier League matchday squad this season for Villa, it is pretty clear that the forward’s time in Birmingham is at an end, and signing for PSV should be an opportunity the winger will be jumping at regardless of if Gakpo leaves for England.
After all, El Ghazi is a talented attacker who is too good to be go to waste at Villa, and at PSV, the attacker will play regular football for a top side in a European competition which could spur the winger to make a push for Louis Van Gaal’s World Cup squad, which is set to be announced in early November.
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