The ‘special’ Cody Gakpo is starting to make a sustained impact at Liverpool with Leeds United and Southampton left wondering what might have been at the opposite end of the Premier League table.
Since joining Liverpool in a £37 million deal from PSV Eindhoven during the January transfer window, Cody Gakpo has already scored more league goals (six) than Patrick Bamford, Che Adams, Luis Sinisterra, Adam Armstrong and Sekou Mara.
It’s tempting to wonder, when, where both Leeds and Southampton would find themselves right now – with just two games to go – had they not seen the Dutch international slip agonisingly through their grasp last summer.
Gakpo, after consulting Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal, opted against putting pen to paper with either Leeds or Southampton, fearing that the wrong move at the wrong time would jeopardise his World Cup chances.
Once Gakpo scored three times in Qatar – one with his left, one with his right and another with his head – it quickly became apparent that two clubs fighting for their life at the wrong end the table had missed their chance.
Leeds United and Southampton could have had Cody Gakpo
“I have seen Cody play football several times in the Oranje squad,” explains compatriot Van Dijk, now hoping to secure Champions League qualification alongside Gakpo at Liverpool.
“The growth as a person that he made was also visible. I realised that this would be the right step for him. As a person, he is of course a good asset to the group.”
Southampton’s relegation was finally confirmed last week. Leeds will join them in the Championship if they fail to pick up any points off West Ham or Tottenham Hotspur. With a lack of clinical finishers proving to be a major issue for both clubs, it’s not hard to imagine that Gakpo could have been a potentially transformative addition at St Mary’s or Elland Road.
“(Gakpo) is very special,” Van Dijk adds, speaking to ViaPlay via VoetbalPrimeur. “He can do it all. You also have to have that flexibility when other things are asked in a match.
“Against Real Madrid, he (played as) a ‘number eight’. He does that well in my opinion. It’s all possible.”
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