Cody Gakpo may have joined Liverpool at the wrong time because Jurgen Klopp’s stint as manager is in danger of coming to an end, according to former PSV Eindhoven boss Aad de Mos.
Gakpo made his Liverpool debut in the 2-2 draw against Wolves in the FA Cup on Saturday. The 23-year-old attacker joined the Reds right at the start of the January transfer window after the club gazumped Manchester United by paying PSV £37million, rising to £45m with add-ons.
He has bolstered Klopp’s attacking options, which have been reduced by injuries to Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota of late. Gakpo scored three goals for Netherlands at the World Cup and is considered one of the brightest talents in Europe.
But De Mos, who managed PSV and Ajax in a 28-year coaching career, believes Gakpo might have made a mistake in choosing Liverpool over rival suitors. Klopp’s side are sixth in the Premier League and way off the pace being set by leaders Arsenal, who are 16 points ahead.
De Mos told Dutch outlet soccernews.nl of Gakpo. “He arrives at a time when the team is disappointing a bit. The spirit is completely gone and they are not among the best teams at the moment, just like Chelsea.
“Liverpool are trying to get back on track at the moment and it’s not a time for young players coming in, so I don’t know if the time is right to go to Liverpool now. Also, maybe Jurgen Klopp is leaving soon."
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Klopp has been with Liverpool since October 2015 and in April signed a contract extension that will see him remain at the club until 2026.
Gakpo arrives at Liverpool after contributing 55 goals and 50 assists in 159 games for PSV. He has been in sparkling form over the past 18 months in particular, with 13 goals and 17 assists this season backing up his 21 goals in the last campaign.
He made a low-key debut in the draw with Wolves on the weekend, which earned a frank assessment from Klopp post-match. “He fitted into the game. It was not easy for a first step,” the German told ITV of Gakpo. “We cannot expect it to be perfect, but he showed good signs. We have to get him in better positions but that will come no doubt.”
Klopp has already urged patience with Liverpool’s latest recruit, suggesting that comparisons with Diaz – who immediately set the world alight after joining from Porto in January 2022 – are unfair. "I'm very positive about him. I'm not sure it's helpful to compare with Diaz impact,” he said of Gakpo before the Wolves game.
“We could swap around a little bit [last year]. We had difficulties as well injury-wise, so he [Diaz] was extremely helpful. That's how it will be in this moment as well.
"Cody gets the same amount of time like each player. You have to settle in offensively, it's not that easy. He comes in from a different league. That's always difficult. It was for Lucho [Diaz] as well, but you don't have to compare them. We expect a positive impact, definitely."
