Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano has claimed Louis van Gaal told Cody Gakpo to snub Leeds United. The Netherlands boss helped the 23-year-old rise to stardom at the World Cup, with three goals in Qatar inflating his price tag further.
A long-winded transfer saga over the summer saw Leeds chiefs try to snare Gakpo - who has 13 goals and 17 assists this season - away from the Eredivisie. The prospect of signing one of Europe's top talents had excited United supporters, who were coming to terms with losing Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.
While the forward remained at PSV, Jesse Marsch revealed how close the Whites were to getting their man earlier this month. He told the Men In Blazers podcast: "It’s difficult for us at Leeds because I think Gakpo’s gotten out of our price range.
“I mean, we were so close to securing a transfer for him in the summer, it was so close, and now obviously it’s disappointing. Our sporting director was in Holland meeting with the family, they had agreed on terms, on everything, and were talking with PSV. I mean, we were 99.9%.”
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Gakpo himself has opened up previously opened up about a potential move to Elland Road. Rivals Manchester United - Van Gaal's former club - were also in the running for his signature.
"I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United," Gakpo told the Times.
"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."
However, the latest claims suggest the Dutch boss was the one who ordered Gakpo to stay put. Just months later, that decision has caused the PSV man to explode further onto the scene - becoming one of the standout performers at the World Cup.
Even Marsch admits the player is likely looking beyond Leeds ahead of the January transfer window. With Man United and possibly Real Madrid lurking, the prospect of luring Gakpo to Elland Road appears slim.
Romano said: "In the final hours of the transfer window Southampton and Leeds were in a battle to sign Cody Gakpo. Leeds had a private flight to brig him to England, have his medical and sign the contract on deadline day.
"And then it was Loui van Gaal who called the player, who called the agents and say, wait a bit. Do this World Cup as a PSV player and then move maybe in January or in the summer."
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