Erik ten Hag is now pushing Manchester United to sign Cody Gakpo in the same way he drove the summer signing of Antony.
Before the early season defeats to Brighton and Brentford, it seemed United were not going to provide a new forward for the Dutchman.
But he pushed the club to reunite him with Antony, even though it meant paying more than United could have got him for had they moved earlier.
It seems United may end up paying a premium for Gakpo too, according to a report by the Telegraph on the forward’s situation.
Ten Hag pushing for Gakpo
They report that United are readying a 50 million euros (£43 million) offer for the forward when the January transfer window opens.
United could have got him for 40 million euros (£35 million) in the summer, but did not take the plunge and went big for Antony instead.
In the grand scheme of things, that £8 million premium to get a long term target in a position where United desperately need a mid-season reinforcement is not the end of the world.
And the report also says that Gakpo wants to join United next month, having had interest from Leeds and Southampton in the summer.
Gakpo shone at the World Cup with the Netherlands, with three goals from his five games as Louis van Gaal’s side were knocked out by Argentina.
Lisandro Martinez and company have gone on to reach the final where they will face Raphael Varane’s France tomorrow afternoon.
He continued his dazzling club form on the world stage and looks ready to make a big move and further enhance his potential.
The summer transfer window saw the Frenkie de Jong saga drag on an embarrassing length of time and come to nothing, so it is to be hoped that the chase for his international teammate is rather more efficient this time around.
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