PSV Eindhoven confirm Cody Gakpo transfer to Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven have confirmed that they have come to an agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Cody Gakpo.
On Monday evening, news broke of Jurgen Klopp’s side closing in on the signing of the in-demand 23-year-old, who has been strongly linked with a move to Manchester United.
The Red Devils tried and failed to sign Gakpo in the summer, and they were expected to reignite their interest in the January window as they search for Cristiano Ronaldo’s successor.
Southampton and Leeds United were also pushing to win the race for Gakpo in the most recent transfer window, and he has been expected to depart the Philips Stadion in 2023.
Following reports of Liverpool reaching an agreement to sign Gakpo, PSV have now confirmed that the Netherlands attacker will make the switch to Anfield in January for a club-record fee.
The 23-year-old has amassed an impressive 13 goals and 17 assists from 24 outings in all competitions this season, and he has won one Eredivisie title, one KNVB-Beker and two Dutch Super Cups at senior level.
Gakpo’s exploits at club level earned him a place in the Netherlands’ squad for the World Cup, where he helped his country reach the quarter-finals with three goals in five starts.
The Dutchman will arrive at Anfield to compete with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Fabio Carvalho, Diogo Jota, Roberto Firmino and Luis Diaz for attacking starts, although the latter three are currently out injured.
Jota and Diaz – who suffered a setback in Dubai and has now undergone surgery – are still some weeks away from returning from their calf and knee injuries respectively, leading Klopp to deploy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain alongside Salah and Nunez up top for Monday’s Premier League game with Aston Villa.
Goals from Salah, Virgil van Dijk and 18-year-old midfielder Stefan Bajcetic saw the Reds record a 3-1 win at Villa Park just a few hours before Gakpo’s transfer was confirmed.
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