Craig Burley has been stunned by the transfer Liverpool have concluded for Dutch forward Cody Gakpo from PSV by stating it’s ‘great business all-round’.
The former Scotland international was shocked at the fee Liverpool managed to sign the 23-year-old for – The Guardian suggest it’s a £35 million transfer – and claimed that ‘you go to the Championship’ and one-season wonders would cost that price, as he told ESPN.
Jurgen Klopp previously spoke about Luis Diaz’s injury setback being a ‘smash in the face’, well, he has just added to his already-fearsome and dangerous forward line with the arrival of Gakpo.
He was one of the stars of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, scoring in every group game for The Netherlands, yet that hasn’t inflated his price in the January transfer market.
Nonetheless, Burley applauded how the Reds have managed to sign a top player, for such a small fee in footballing terms.
“I look at this player and I think it’s one of the great bits of business, I really do,” said Burley. “I keep looking at the fee. I keep looking at the fee and thinking ‘no, this is not 2022, this is 2012, 2010 or 2009’.
“The guy is 23, when I look at him as a player and the left-hand side is his best position, but I look at this guy, who for me could play in several positions if need be and could adapt.
“He’s got the physical attributes, and yes, he will have to step those up. And it will be a step up for him. We know he can score goals. We know he has those attributes I talked about. We know he is flexible. And £37 million?!
“I mean, you go to the Championship and you get somebody who has had a one-season wonder and you are going to be paying £25, 35 or 40 million plus for somebody. If they were bringing him in at £80 or 90 million, then you would be like ‘oooh’. This is a terrific piece of business from Liverpool and I think it’s a great move for the player as well. Going into that club, the way they play, with this manager and it’s great business all-round.”
GAKPO LOOKING FORWARD TO SALAH LINK-UP
Gakpo is through the main doors at Anfield and he is already being paraded around by his new club like a big expensive toy given at Christmas.
For the Liverpool faithful, this is a late Christmas present, but one that they will more than happily accept as they now look forward to their new signing linking up with Mo Salah.
Upon Gakpo’s arrival, he expressed his admiration for someone like Salah and how he can’t wait to play alongside the Egypt star.
Added in Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota to the mix, then this Liverpool attack has just become spicier for the long-term.
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