Jamie Carragher has revealed he was "surprised" at the price Liverpool paid for Cody Gakpo - and compared the situation to Antony's record-breaking transfer to Manchester United in the summer.
The Reds completed the signing of the Netherlands ace for a fee in the region of £45million on Wednesday night after Jurgen Klopp's side hijacked United's move for the forward. Erik ten Hag was keen to bring Gakpo to Manchester but Liverpool swooped in to sign him on a long-term deal.
Gakpo had been firing in the goals for PSV in the Eredivisie before his switch to the Reds was confirmed, scoring nine goals in 14 league appearances for this season. Ten Hag had seen first-hand of what to expect from Gakpo but he chose to bring in Antony from Ajax in August for £85m - their second-highest buy ever behind Paul Pogba.
Despite scoring more goals than Antony last term, Gakpo didn't attract as much interest from the elite European teams in the summer but an impressive World Cup campaign seemed to spark rumours. And former Liverpool defender Carragher has admitted he is surprised by the fee but claimed it is a signing the Reds needed to make.
He told Sky Sports: "I think it is needed right now, that’s why I asked the question to Jurgen Klopp. The injury to [Luiz] Diaz was a big problem, you look at his record in Holland and you’d expect those numbers, we know the Eredivisie isn’t the standard of the Premier League and there’s been some hits and misses coming in.
"At this moment when you look at Liverpool playing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left wing tonight, that’s not his position, the options on the bench for Liverpool isn’t great. I think Diaz is going to be another two or three months, [Diogo] Jota isn’t coming back soon so I think it’s a great signing.
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"Another thing that surprises me is the price, I thought it’d be a bit more expensive especially the price that Antony cost, a similar profile of player, I think it would maybe those for Liverpool. Yes you look to next season what will happen when Diaz is back because he plays on the left wing but they can move around positions as well and if push comes to shove they’ll probably sell one of them if they can’t fit them in but I think it’s a good decision and signing."
Liverpool were forced to play Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left-wing for the visit of Leicester on Friday night, with Diaz and Jota still expected to be out for the foreseeable future. That opens the door for Gakpo come straight into the XI when he is eligible to feature for the Reds.
