Ryan Babel would love to see Liverpool sign Cody Gakpo – but thinks Arsenal would be an ‘incredible’ destination for the PSV Eindhoven star.
Every World Cup, there are a few players who emerge and spark a race for their services.
It looks like PSV star Gakpo will be the leading light in that regard this time around.
Gakpo scored against Senegal in a 2-0 Netherlands win before grabbing a superb goal against Ecuador on Friday.
The PSV Eindhoven star is shining in Qatar and there is likely to be a scramble for his signature come January.
Ryan Babel would love to see Liverpool sign Cody Gakpo
The Mirror reported in October that Arsenal had been tracking Gakpo for around a year ahead of a possible move.
The Gunners continue to be linked with wingers like Mykhaylo Mudryk, Facundo Torres and now Christian Pulisic.
Gakpo may still be on their radar but other Premier League clubs are keen too.
Claims from the Netherlands have suggested that Liverpool want Gakpo with assistant boss Pep Lijnders believing he’s the ‘missing link’ for the Reds.
Add in links to Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Leeds United and Southampton and you begin to realise that the race for Gakpo is intense.
Gakpo has been ridiculous for PSV this season, racking up 13 goals and 17 assists in just 24 games for the Dutch side.
Thriving as a winger with his club and now showing quality as a striker for the Netherlands, Gakpo is showing that he is versatile attacking weapon.
That ability to play wide and up top will appeal to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal with Ryan Babel now offering his view.
Babel – who had similar hype around him in the Netherlands with Ajax – joined Liverpool in 2007 but didn’t quite live up to the buzz.
Babel, now 35 and still playing out in Turkey, has told The Athletic that he would tell Gakpo to join Liverpool if an offer is on the table.
The winger added that Arsenal would be an ‘incredible’ move for Gakpo though, believing that Mikel Arteta’s project is ideal for a player like Gakpo.
“You see him linked to clubs in England, such as Manchester United,” said Babel. “Everyone has the right price so let’s see how he develops in the tournament. He has shown enough quality that he is ready for the next step, whether it’s in January or next summer.”
“As a Liverpool fan, I would tell him to go to Liverpool if they make an approach! Arsenal would also be an incredible team for him, with the current manager and the project that they’re building. He has to follow his heart,” he added.
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