According to The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe, Everton were eyeing up Cody Gakpo as a potential replacement for Anthony Gordon this summer.
The Athletic ran a long read article on Gakpo ahead of PSV’s clash with Arsenal on Thursday evening, and Everton’s interest was mentioned by O’Keeffe after the outlet gave the Dutchman a glowing review.
According to the journalist, Gakpo was on the Toffees’ shortlist in the eventuality that Anthony Gordon left the club this summer amid strong interest from both Tottenham and Chelsea – via Simon Phillips.
However, Gordon stayed at Goodison Park this summer despite bids from Chelsea, and that meant that Everton never moved for Gakpo.
In hindsight, Everton may wish that Gordon had gone and Gakpo had come in. After all, the Dutch winger is lighting up the Eredivisie at the moment and is even being linked with a move to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Gordon isn’t really doing all that much to kick-on in the Premier League, scoring twice and failing to register a single assist this season, while Gakpo already has 23 goal contributions to his name this season – a startling difference.
Everton’s chance to sign Gakpo has probably been and gone at this point. This is a player who now looks destined for a move to one of Europe’s elite. Madrid are keen, as are Arsenal, and at the end of the season the winger may have his pick of Europe’s top clubs, and it’s hard to imagine Everton factoring into his thinking.
Of course, this isn’t the first near miss the Merseysiders have had with a talented winger. Luis Diaz was on the verge of joining last summer before deciding against a move, and he has since established himself as one of Europe’s most potent attacking threats.
Everton look to have missed out on a potential superstar here.
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