Transfer News: Arsenal are leading the race for Liverpool target and PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo
According to Voetbal International (h/t Football London), Arsenal are leading the race for PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo. The Dutch forward has interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City but it’s the Gunners who apparently lead the race.
The Dutchman has been impressive for the Dutch giants this season and could be ready to take the next step in his career. The exciting young winger is enjoying a fine season in the Netherlands, scoring 16 goals and assisting 15 more in 37 matches so far.
A highly-rated prospect, Gakpo can play on either wing or through the middle but he primarily plays down the left flank. The Netherlands international has been producing output on a consistent basis and is now attracting interest from the elites of Europe.
Despite having signed a new contract with the Eredivisie giants, there is a feeling that Gakpo might not stay in the Dutch league for long considering the offers that he is getting from around Europe.
A product of the PSV youth system, the 22-year-old winger has already won four senior caps for the Dutch national team. Arsenal are said to have already leapfrogged the race for the 22-year-old’s signature and other clubs will have to act fast if they indeed want to sign Gakpo.
A signing the Reds don’t need?
Arsenal leapfrogging Liverpool in the race for Cody Gakpo could turn out to be a good thing for the Reds considering the current circumstances.
Although there is no doubting the Dutchman’s prodigious potential, Liverpool have no dearth of options on the left-wing and signing Gakpo does not make sense in that regard. Well, at least in the short term.
Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are arguably two of the best wingers in the league, but they aren’t immortal and will turn 30 this year. Luis Diaz is a strong signing in that regard, but Diogo Jota’s inclusion in the squad looks more like he is meant to be a striker rather than a winger for us.
With Salah’s contract standoff and Mane’s deal also expiring in the summer of 2023, we would have big decisions to make for our future. Gakpo, at 22, provides us with a safety net if we are to lose our star wingers in the near future.
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Sure, he would struggle to break into our current starting XI on a regular basis. But then again, he would also find playing time in cup games, considering how the Reds would also want to compete on all fronts. And to play for a team like Liverpool, you can’t expect to be a starter from the get-go.
Just ask the likes of Andy Robertson and Fabinho that.
