Arsenal are one of a number of teams tracking PSV winger Cody Gakpo, with an agreement between club and player that he will be allowed to leave this summer - if a suitable offer is lodged.
Gakpo, 22, is enjoying the most prolific season of his career, having already scored 16 goals and created another 14 for team-mates as they battle it out with Ajax for the Eredivisie title. The Netherlands international was heavily linked with a transfer in January, with the likes of the Gunners and Premier League rivals Liverpool believed to be interested.
However, he ultimately remained in Eindhoven, agreeing to terms on a new contract which stretches until the end of the 2025/26 season. But the Athletic report that the deal was only signed on the proviso that he would be allowed to leave this summer should a potential suitor meet the club’s demands.
It is suggested that along with Arsenal and Liverpool; European heavyweights Barcelona and Bayern Munich are also monitoring the situation and could now accelerate things down the chain. At this point, interest hasn’t translated into talks with the Dutch giants, but that looks set to change as the summer window moves ever closer.
Arsenal have made a clear shift in transfer policy under Mikel Arteta and technical director, after last summer saw them spend in the region of £150million to land six players, all of whom were under the age of 23. But as they did with the likes of Ben White and Martin Odegaard, the Gunners will be forced to splash the cash to land Gakpo, with an expectation he would command a fee in the region of £35million.
PSV sporting director John de Jong admitted earlier this year that despite Gakpo signing a new deal, it would be difficult to keep him from the clutches of some of the world’s biggest teams.
“The interest started early in the season, when he performed well, also with the Dutch national team,” De Jong said in February. “My goal is to keep him for the season at all times. I don’t know how long we can keep him out of the hands of the big clubs in Europe. How he performs is the most important thing.
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“That (his new contract) says a lot. A nice signal to players in the academy and in this group. The path that he goes through from youth player to important base player, to the second captain is beautiful. An example.”
Speaking after signing his contract, Gakpo said: “I have a clear mission this season: win trophies with PSV”, but refused to look long-term with any of his immediate reaction. Shortly before he had put pen-to-paper, he did suggest that the teams linked with his signature were “very interesting” refusing to rule out a move in the future.
“It looks like I’m going to renew my contract,” Gakpo said. "The clubs that want something are also known to me, I’ve had conversations about that with my agent. Very interesting clubs have been added, but we have to look at what the first step is.”
