It was the Boxing Day twist plenty of Manchester United fans didn't see coming. For much of December Cody Gakpo has been a regular feature in transfer tittle-tattle around Old Trafford, so to see him end up down the M62 was certainly a surprise.
For some, it once again highlighted the efficiency with which Liverpool conduct their transfer business. Just as they swooped for Luis Diaz with the minimum of fuss last January, they have done so again with Gakpo now. He had barely been linked with a move to Anfield until it broke on Boxing Day evening that that was, indeed, where he was going.
The links with United made sense but were always fuelled as much by transfer window maths as they were by a burning desire to sign the player. After the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo they needed a forward, Gakpo was a player they tried to sign in the summer and he impressed in the World Cup.
