Liverpool are set to enter talks with the representatives of Cody Gakpo, according to Dutch outlet Voetbal International, but will need to pay upwards of €50million for the Dutch star.
The Reds are rumoured to have joined several Premier League sides in exploring the possibility of signing the forward, following an outstanding World Cup group stage with the Netherlands. Gakpo scored the opening goal in his side's meeting with Qatar this afternoon to make it three goals in three games for the Oranje at the time of writing.
That international form has merely been a continuation of a domestic purple patch that has seen the 23-year-old register nine goals and 12 assists in 14 Eredivisie appearances. The Dutchman was on the verge of joining Leeds United in the summer, only to turn the West Yorkshire side down thanks to a call from Louis van Gaal, who suggested he would be more likely to star for his country, should he remain at PSV Eindhoven.
READ MORE: Paris Saint-Germain hand Liverpool and FSG £3.5bn sale boost
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah in line for stunning hat-trick as Gary Neville sends Liverpool warning
That decision looks to have paid dividends for both Gakpo and PSV, with the young forward's value seemingly increasing by the week and the prospect of Champions League football all-but guaranteed.
Gakpo has been the Netherlands' standout player during the group stages of the World Cup, and former Oranje legend Ronald de Boer admitted earlier today that he loves the youngster 'as a player and as a person'.
“Before the season, they could have sold Gakpo to an English club, Leeds United, for a lot of money," de Boer told Sky Sports.. "But PSV said ‘no, we’ll wait, we’re going to play Champions League’ then they got kicked out by Rangers. And they thought ‘oh, there goes the money’, bad management basically they said because now they lose a lot of money.
“They kicked out the technical director [Nigel de Jong] because of that, not totally. Now he must be sitting on his couch thinking ‘Gakpo is worth £80m, probably, so why am I sitting at home?’
“Talking about Gakpo himself, he’s a great youngster. He has speed, dribble but most importantly has a great shot, he’s directly to the goal and he finds the net quite easy.
“What’s less important is that he’s a great person, you can see on the camera, really down to earth and I love him as a football player and as a person.”
READ NEXT
-
Inside FSG's £240m Anfield plan as naming rights deal could hand new owners major boost
-
Jurgen Klopp could be about to get an early glimpse at his new-look Liverpool midfield
-
Mohamed Salah seeking award treble as Liverpool stars nominated for Fans' Footballer of the Year
-
Liverpool discover Benfica stance on Enzo Fernandez transfer as release clause emerges
-
Ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge bursts into Kylian Mbappe song during interview
