PSV Eindhoven director of football Marcel Brands has spoken candidly about a potential exit for the in-form Cody Gakpo.
The attacker has scored 13 times for his club this season and has assisted a whopping 17 more. The Netherlands star netted in every group game to finish the tournament with three goals having mostly been used as a centre-forward by Louis van Gaal.
Erik ten Hag has admitted he is searching for a forward in January amid the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gakpo has been continuously linked with a move to Old Trafford. The 23-year-old has already spoken of his disappointment when a move to Manchester United didn’t go through in the summer despite talks.
READ MORE: Cody Gakpo speaks out about potential Manchester United move
He recently pushed the door further open by suggesting he’d “think about” a move to the Reds if an offer eventually did come in. PSV chief Brands has now confirmed that Gakpo has no transfer release clause in his contract.
However, he suggested that a January move would be less likely than a summer one due to the funds required to prise the player away from their grasp. The club holding out for a record fee, which currently stands at £43m from Hirving Lozano’s 2019 departure to Napoli.
He also reiterated that no bids had come in for Gakpo but hinted that there was an exit route if he wanted to leave. Speaking to PSV supporters on club talk show Eeuwig Trouw, Brands outlined: “You have to be realistic.
“When you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag, how many clubs are able to buy a player of that calibre? You are talking about maybe 10 or 12 clubs in Europe.
"You have to need a player in that position and be able and willing to spend the money in January, which is normally less hectic than the summer. We have yet to see if it all happens. He has no clause or anything.”
He added: "No amounts have been agreed on either. The agreements that were made were there before my time.
"Amounts have not been discussed, but if the right club comes that Cody would like to go... Those agreements were already made before I came. It must be a record transfer for PSV anyway. Then you know in which direction it should go."
Brand also claimed United panicked when they shelled out £85m to Ajax for Antony on deadline day, and snuffed at suggestions that the figure would be a reference point for the price of Gakpo. “That [Antony transfer to United] had nothing to do with market conformity, but with a club that is in panic and a trainer who insisted on him,” Brands said.
“Many players have left for market value in recent times, such as Gabriel Jesus for £50m or Erling Haaland for 75 million euros. In the media it seems like all the clubs are lining up, but the reality is that we don't know anything about interest or anything yet.
“It's quiet. I've spoken to Cody. He's going on vacation for 10 days. If something is at play, it is perhaps known to Cody or his management, but not to us yet."
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