Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Cody Gakpo is capable of playing anywhere across the front line - but also admitted the forward's preference would be on the left wing.
Liverpool completed the signing of the 23-year-old from PSV on Wednesday night after they hijacked Manchester United's move for the highly-rated Netherlands international. Gakpo scored three goals in five matches at the World Cup for his country and has also impressed for his club this term, having netted 14 times in 23 games.
However, Gakpo will have to wait until January to play his first competitive game for the Reds and is therefore unavailable to feature in their clash with Leicester City on Friday evening. The talented striker played against the Foxes for PSV in the Europa Conference League last season but isn't eligible to play this time around.
It is safe to say Klopp was buzzing to get the deal over the line and the Liverpool boss has since revealed his plans for Gakpo when he is available for selection. The Reds now have six senior forwards in the squad but Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are currently out injured, with Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez the fit three first-teamers across the forward line.
Klopp said in his pre-match press conference: "The position he probably prefers to play is left wing in a 4-3-3 but Cody can play different positions - he can play all four positions up front - wing and striker. He is still very young, he was in a really good run of form for Holland and for PSV."
It all comes after Liverpool released a statement confirming the transfer. It read: "Liverpool Football Club have reached an agreement for the transfer of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, subject to a work permit.
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"The 23-year-old forward will officially become a Reds player at the start of the January transfer window after agreeing personal terms and successfully completing a medical at the AXA Training Centre. Gakpo arrives on the back of an impressive World Cup showing with the Netherlands, netting three goals in five appearances, starring alongside Virgil van Dijk in helping their country reach the quarter-final stage."
Meanwhile, Gakpo was delighted to get a deal done in such short notice after only just returning from some time off following the World Cup in Qatar. "At the moment I was calling [in] with the coach, he came into the office of the coach and then he saw me and we chatted a little bit," he told the club's website.
Gakpo added: "We spoke a lot over the phone [in] the last days. What he told me was that this is the right move for me to make and for me to develop and to become a better player, that the club is a really big and massive club but also like a real family.
"I think that's also very important for me because I'm a family guy. He said only good things. "I'm also happy that he's here, so he can help me with some stuff. I'm really grateful to be here."
