European football expert Andy Brassell predicts Cody Gakpo to be a de-facto replacement for Luis Diaz at Liverpool. The Reds have agreed a transfer for the PSV Eindhoven forward.
PSV have confirmed that Gakpo will move to Anfield during the upcoming January transfer window for a club-record fee. The Guardian reports the switch is worth an initial £37m but add-ons could take the fee to £50m. He will now move to Merseyside when the sales start.
- WORLD CUP: LIVERPOOL AND TOTTENHAM TARGET IS AMONG THE TOP 10 DEFENDERS
- WORLD CUP: TOTTENHAM DUO AND AN ARSENAL TARGET ARE IN THE TOP 10 STRIKERS
Liverpool struck Gakpo’s transfer after losing Diaz until possibly March after the Colombian underwent knee surgery earlier this month. The winger needed an operation on his lateral collateral ligaments after suffering a setback during his recovery from an initial knee injury.
Liverpool sign Gakpo from PSV just one year after Diaz arrived from Porto
Diaz was the headline addition at Anfield last January as Liverpool secured a £37.5m, up to £50m, move from FC Porto. The 25-year-old would instantly cement a pivotal place in boss Jurgen Klopp’s side. But the German has now been without the Colombian since October 9.
Klopp started Diaz in 18 of his 26 appearances across all competitions over the second half of the 2021/22 season. The Colombian also offered six goals and five assists, while netting four and creating three so far this term. He had started 11 of his 12 appearances this term.
Brassell expects Gakpo to plug the void in Klopp’s frontline once at Anfield
Gakpo will now sign for Liverpool in January to help Klopp replace Diaz after flourishing for PSV and the Netherlands. The 23-year-old went to the World Cup in Qatar after netting 13 and creating 17 goals in 24 games across all competitions for the Eredivisie outfit this term.
The Eindhoven native also scored 21 goals and assisted 15 in 47 games last term. He now leaves PSV with a record of 55 goals and 50 assists in 159 first-team games at his boyhood team. Of those efforts, Gakpo struck 47 and created 42 from 118 outings off the left wing.
But Gakpo can deliver from the right and through the centre, as shown at the World Cup in Qatar. The 6 ft 2 dynamo provided Louis van Gaal a central threat and scored three goals in five appearances. Now, Brassell expects Gakpo to help Liverpool cope with Diaz’s absence.
“When you look at his form for PSV over the last few years, which has been exceptional, it’s mainly coming from that left-hand side,” Brassell told talkSPORT.
“So, his immediate future at Liverpool would seemingly be as a de-facto replacement for Luis Diaz, who is obviously injured for the foreseeable. He can go straight into that Liverpool team. He’s been playing at a very high level for a long time now.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
