Cody Gakpo has labelled the collapse of his summer transfer to Manchester United “a shame” after holding talks with the club.
Ahead of facing Arsenal in the Europa League, a club the PSV Eindhoven winger was also linked with, Gakpo has described how close he came to joining United and why he was disappointed the deal fell through.
“I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United,” Gakpo told The Times.
“In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame, for me and my development.
“And because Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, but also for PSV, because to transfer a player to Manchester United is a good thing for the club.
“It ended about a week before the end of the transfer window and in that week I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end I stayed, but it was a stressful period.”
PSV director of football Marcel Brands insisted last month that no club came close to offering Gakpo’s valuation - which was reportedly around £35million.
He said: “They didn't come until mid-August and didn't go through. I even think Cody wouldn't have left at the end of the transfer window, if the right amount had been offered.
“There has been no bid that approached the lower bound of what we agreed with Cody.”
