Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing PSV winger Cody Gakpo - and the Dutch giants are willing to sell him to the Reds.
The Netherlands international, 23, has established himself as one of the most exciting talents in Europe - scoring 13 goals and providing 17 assists in just 23 games this season. He's valued at around £40million and has three-and-a-half years left on his contract.
Manchester United, Leeds and Southampton have been linked with Gakpo before, yet it appears Liverpool are also in the race for his signature. It's claimed the Reds view him as the 'missing link' in their stuttering side, which is struggling to pick up wins this term.
As reported by ESPN via HITC, Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders has identified Gakpo as a possible signing. Lijnders has a big say in the club's transfer policy and scouted Luis Diaz before the Reds signed the influential forward from Porto at the beginning of 2022.
And that move worked a dream for Liverpool. Diaz, who is currently nursing a knee injury, has scored seven goals and provided five assists in the Premier League since the transfer. He also played an important role in winning the FA Cup and EFL Cup last term.
Liverpool are on the hunt for a new wide forward after Sadio Mane's move to Bayern Munich in the summer. Darwin Nunez has since arrived on Merseyside, but he is not a like-for-like replacement. Gakpo is reportedly viewed as someone who can fill Mane's void.
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Although Liverpool have won five consecutive games in Europe, they're struggling to pick up points in the Premier League. They've won just five of their 13 games in the division, beating Tottenham 2-1 Sunday after suffering losses to Nottingham Forest and Leeds.
Signing Gakpo in January could give Liverpool the boost they need heading into the business end of the season. PSV sporting director Marcel Brands has admitted the club are interested in selling the player to the Anfield team - but in the summer instead of January.
"Liverpool is a club that is always very focused," Brands told ESPN. "Sometimes they get players [identify transfer targets] for the next season in November. Would they be a good partner to send Gakpo in the summer? Yes, that’s right."
Gakpo could find himself choosing between Liverpool and United. Speaking to The Times in October, he said: "I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United.
"In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame for me and my development. And because Manchester United is 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."
