Manchester United and Arsenal have been boosted in their interest in winger Cody Gakpo after learning he has an agreement in place to leave PSV Eindhoven if their asking price is met.
The Dutch club fended off other clubs to keep hold of their star man in the summer but are already preparing for the new wave of potential suitors when the January transfer window opens. Gakpo looks poised to be involved in the Qatar World Cup over winter and could generate more interest in his signature with a good showing at the tournament.
United and Arsenal are among the clubs who have kept tabs on him throughout recent months, along with Southampton and Leeds United, who failed with a late bid for his services. But PSV director of football Marcel Brands has conceded the club may be forced to sell if any clubs return with an improved offer.
Speaking to Voetbal International, the former Everton chief admitted: “I can say with my hand on my heart that there has been no offer for Cody to which the management or the supervisory board have said: we must do this.
“We did state that if there were certain offers, we would have to sell. Not only from a financial point of view, but also because agreements were made with the Gakpo camp before my time.”
While it's not clear how much PSV would be willing to accept to let the 23-year-old depart, it appears Leeds got close to reaching that figure, with only the criteria regarding their additional bonus payments thwarting their attempts to complete a deal.
Discussing Leeds' bid, Brands explained: "It was €30m [up front] plus €13m [in add-ons], of which only €2m were realistic. For example, we would get €6m if they made it to the Champions League.
“Bonuses are only good for me if they are realistic. This was the very best offer and we all said no to that.”
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Gakpo has been attracting plenty of interest after a standout season last term where he was named Eredivisie Player of the Year. He's started this season in similarly scintillating form scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances.
United boss Erik ten Hag was keen to poach Gakpo and take him to Old Trafford but instead opted to push through with a move for ex-Ajax colleague Antony. That has left Gakpo unsure of where his next move will take him after being convinced he was on his way to United.
The player has since revealed he snubbed the chance to force through a move to the Premier League after advice from Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal.
“We worked the whole window towards it [a move to United]," Gakpo told PSV TV (via TeamTalk ) after the transfer deadline had passed. "Until last week, I thought I would go to Manchester United.
“I spoke to other clubs, Premier League clubs which could be a good step. But there are more factors to consider, like the World Cup. I spoke to the national team coach [Van Gaal] and asked for his advice.
"His advice was clear. That I should follow my feelings. But that a transfer in a World Cup year is such a transition, going from club to club. It’s not ideal for a player, and I agreed with him.
“From my side, it was also a bit last minute because I was looking at United and then I have to choose a different club. It all felt like a bit of a rush. Plus, it wasn’t nice for PSV because it was so last minute.”
