PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo could be on his way to La Liga giants Real Madrid after turning down Premier League duo Leeds United and Southampton, former Dutch international Rene van der Kerkhof tells Omroep Brabants.
A couple of stand-out performances on the biggest of stages can work wonders for a player’s reputation.
Take Cody Gakpo, for instance. Now, the Manchester United target was hardly an unknown quantity before jetting out to Qatar but the forward’s reputation – not to mention his price-tag – sky-rocketed following three goals in three games during the World Cup group-stages.
With all due respect to Leeds United and Southampton, two clubs who tried and failed to sign Gakpo on the final day of the summer window, one of Europe’s most coveted young forwards could now be in line for a bigger move.
And there’s few ‘bigger’ than Real Madrid.
Leeds and Southampton missed out on Cody Gakpo with Real Madrid now targeting PSV ace
“I have reliable Spanish sources reporting that Real Madrid want to get Cody Gakpo as (Karim) Benzema’s successor,” says Van der Kerkhof, a three-time Eredivisie champion with PSV in the 1970s.
“And he can choose where he goes. I think he fits better with Real Madrid than in England.”
Rene’s twin brother and fellow Dutch legend Willy Van der Kerkhof, meanwhile, believes that PSV should demand at least £65 million. Erik Ten Hag’s Man United are perhaps the current frontrunners.
“PSV should certainly not sell him for less than 75 million euros this winter,” Willy adds.
In all competitions, Gakpo has 18 goals and 18 assists for club and country this season. Do not rule out Liverpool making a move of their own either, particularly after another injury suffered by Luis Diaz.
“(Liverpool assistant coach Pep) Lijnders has said; ‘Gakpo is our missing link’,” explains reporter Hans Kraay Jr. “He is taken very seriously at Liverpool, and he is one of the few people Klopp listens to.”
Gakpo told The Times a few months ago that he turned down Leeds and Southampton in favour of spending a few more months at Eredivisie challengers PSV. Elland Road boss Jesse Marsch has since admitted that Leeds were ‘99.9 per cent’ down the line in their pursuit of Gakpo (Men in Blazers podcast).
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