By Betsefy
PSV Eindhoven are reportedly after a club-record transfer fee to sanction the sale of Manchester United-linked attacker Cody Gakpo in 2023.
The Netherlands international was the subject of interest from numerous Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window after his blistering campaign with PSV.
Man United, Arsenal, Southampton and Leeds United were all linked with a move, but a transfer did not materialise and Gakpo remained at the Philips Stadion.
The 23-year-old has made another terrific start to the new season under Ruud van Nistelrooy, banking 10 goals and nine assists from just 14 appearances in all competitions.
Gakpo extended his deal with the Eindhoven-based club until 2026 earlier this year, but PSV could come under pressure to sell if an offer comes in that is too good to turn down.
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According to Football Transfers, PSV would look to make Gakpo their most expensive departure to sanction a sale in January – an accolade that currently belongs to Hirving Lozano.
The Mexico international left for Napoli for a €45m (£39.6m) fee in the summer of 2019, and potential suitors can therefore expect to be quoted at least £40m to sign Gakpo.
The report adds that Man United and Southampton are both willing to fight for Gakpo’s signature in the January transfer window, and they will be joined in the race by Everton.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have apparently cooled their interest in the Dutch attacker, who Erik ten Hag feels is the ideal acquisition to his forward line as he continues to mould the squad into his own vision.
Gakpo admitted after the transfer window had closed that he was expecting to join Man United, and he could not make a snap decision on another club after a switch to Old Trafford fell through.
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“Manchester United had reported at the beginning of the transfer window. We were waiting for that a bit. The signals became more and more positive and at a certain point I thought it might fall in that direction,” Gakpo told PSV TV.
“That option faded a bit and completely last week. We worked the whole window towards it. Until last week I thought I would go to Manchester United. It was all last minute for me, because until last week I thought I was going to Manchester [United].
“Then it was ‘choose another club’ and decide whether I wanted to go there. That is not nice for PSV and also not for me, because it felt rushed. I’m glad it’s over. For me it was the first window where it was stay or go.
“In the last week it was looking at what was the right thing to do. I feel at home here, in my own city. Everyone knows how I feel here. But of course there are other things at play and I think you should have all the options. I did that too. In the end, PSV came up with a good offer that seemed to be the right choice.”
Gakpo has a total of 52 goals and 42 assists under his belt from 149 outings in a PSV Eindhoven shirt since coming through their youth academy, while he scored one goal and set up another for the Netherlands in September’s Nations League wins over Poland and Belgium.
