Cody Gakpo revealed that he nearly signed for Liverpool’s arch-rivals, Manchester United. However, he also had inquiries from Leeds United before ultimately joining Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Gakpo expected to join Manchester United in the summer, but the club did not submit an official bid for him despite showing strong interest. Talks with Leeds United reportedly collapsed before PSV Eindhoven rejected a second proposal. In the end, Liverpool won the race for the 23-year-old forward, paying a fee of around £40 million for his services.
Cody brings a lot of versatility to Klopp’s attack, which consists of six frontline first-team choices. However, former Liverpool player Stan Collymore commented on the club’s ability to compete in the transfer market, stating that they are “shopping in Aldi” while Manchester City is “walking straight into Harrod’s.” Collymore’s remarks may indicate that Manchester City, a financially strong and successful club, can attract and afford top players. At the same time, Liverpool may have to settle for less expensive options.
This comes right in the middle of a high-profile battle to sign English midfielder Jude Bellingham, who will undoubtedly be costly. That being said, Gakpo is a valuable addition to Liverpool’s attack. He has shown his potential at PSV, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists in the Dutch Eredivisie last season. In addition, Gakpo’s versatility to play across the front three will give Liverpool additional options in attack and provide cover for star player Mohamed Salah, who may not be able to play forever.
The signing of Gakpo may also be helpful for Liverpool as they try to compete with Manchester City in the long run, while in the short run, they try and salvage their current situation. Gakpo is expected to debut in the Cup game later this week.