He is the discovery of the World Cup in Qatar.
Holland striker Cody Gakpo (23) from PSV Eindhoven towered over for “Oranje”, scored three goals in four World Cup games. The World Cup shooting star is currently making impressive use of the attention of the world’s largest football tournament to get on the wish lists of the really big top European clubs.
As several international media reports, Real Madrid, Manchester United or Jürgen Klopps (55) FC Liverpool Gakpo are said to have Gakpo in their sights and are preparing offers.
According to a report by Sky Sports UK, his future will be decided after the World Cup – and Manchester United are ready to make a £50million bid. This corresponds to almost 58 million euros.
But is the striker ready for a change in winter?
The two twin brothers and PSV legends Willy (71) and René van de Kerkhof (71) doubt that. The two ex-internationals, who won the Dutch Eredivisie six times with PSV in the 1970s and 1980s, advise Gakpo to stay until the end of the season – but only if the striker still fulfills two conditions!
Willy van de Kerkhof (including the 1988 national champions’ cup winners) in the brothers’ joint podcast on Omroep Brabant: “PSV shouldn’t let him go now. Gakpo must deliver the title and Champions League football to PSV first. That’ll bring you a few million extra too!”
Willy Van De Kerkhof (left) and René van de Kerkhof played together for Elftal at the 1974 and 1978 World Cups in Argentina (photo), finished second and third at the World Cup
Foto: Popperfoto via Getty Images
René van de Kerkhof goes on to say that PSV can thank the sacked technical director John de Jong (45) that Gakpo has not yet been sold. De Jong was sacked in September after being accused of not doing the same. Despite numerous top offers in the summer, including from Manchester United!
“PSV should apologize to John de Jong and be grateful. That’s why he’s still here,” said ex-national player van de Kerkhof, who played a total of 278 games for Eindhoven from 1973 to 1983 and won the championship three times.
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The striker also confirmed to the English “Times” that he was about to move to ManUnited and that he wanted to move there too.
Gakpo told The Times: “I was about to leave, I spoke to Erik ten Hag at Manchester United a couple of times. In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame for my development and for me. Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world but it was also a shame for PSV because it’s a good thing for the club to transfer players to Manchester United for many millions.”
As the Dutch international continues, Leeds United and Southampton FC are said to have been in the goalscorer’s turn. Leeds boss Victor Orta (43) traveled to Holland to negotiate the transfer just under a week before the end of the transfer window, but Gakpo refused. Reason: He had refused to board a plane to England to complete the transfer.
“It ended about a week before the end of the transfer window, this week I had to decide whether to go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end I stayed, but it was a stressful time,” says Gakpo, who is contesting his first major tournament for Elftal at the World Cup in Qatar.
Despite the stress, he does not rule out a move to the British Isles: “If I had the chance to go to Manchester United in the Premier League or something, I would obviously have to consider that option.”
