Manchester United are reported by The Mirror to be eyeing a move for PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo, 22, can play both as a left winger or centre-forward or even a number 10. He has been in impressive form this season, scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists.
Gakpo made his international debut for the Netherlands last year after being called up by Louis van Gaal, and has one goal in four games.
The former Manchester United boss is quite a fan of the young player, who hopes to make an impression at this year’s upcoming World Cup.
Speaking to NOS, Van Gaal said: “I think Gakpo is a great talent. He scores easily. He has now also shown that in the Dutch national team. He is also a young player, so he still has a lot of experience to gain.”
Van Gaal went on to describe Gakpo as ‘explosive’, and the Dutch manager is also helping shape the forward’s versatility in the final third.
Gakpo says he has spoken with Van Gaal about finding his best role, quoted by FCUpdate, and says he likes to drop back to link with the midfield.
He said: “We have discussed this together. ‘Central in the front’ is still a broad concept. I do have a clear preference, I prefer to play just behind the striker than in the striker. As ’10’ you can still look for the combination with the deepest man.”
The best manager Gakpo could hope for is Ajax boss Erik Ten Hag, who knows him extremely well as he has had to manage against him and try to counter act him. This makes the potential United boss acutely aware of the forward’s strengths and weaknesses and how best to utilise him.
United are looking to strengthen in attack this summer, but exactly how, depends on a variety of factors.
These range from ‘who will be the next manager?’, to ‘how much money is there to spend?’, ‘will Cristiano Ronaldo stay?’, and ‘how much money will be left after spending on a defensive midfielder?’.
Then there is the issue of what type of striker United want to buy, whether and out and out number nine like Harry Kane or Victor Osimhen, or a versatile player who likes to drop deep and link the play like Christian Nkunku or Cody Gakpo.
Strong form
All Gakpo can do in the meantime is keep up his good form and wait until the summer. He has been particularly impressive over the past month.
Over the last five matches, Gakpo has scored three goals and has two assists, and after Ajax’s shock defeat at the weekend, PSV are right in the title race.
PSV are just two points behind Ajax with the same number of games played. If Gakpo can keep up his impressive form, then he could land a major blow on Erik Ten Hag and make a real impression on him.
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