The former Liverpool attacker previously appeared to be headed for Manchester United before having a last-minute change of heart; Dutch star Cody Gakpo appears to have had a similar experience.
Manchester United’s upper management must be sitting around this morning wondering how history has repeated itself and cost them another another high-profile acquisition.
After months of nonstop rumors linking Cody Gakpo to a transfer away from PSV Eindhoven, reports surfaced late yesterday night claiming that the forward’s exit had finally been finalized and his new team, Liverpool, had been verified. Reading the same stories, United supporters must have had trouble believing their good fortune.
Upper management at Manchester United must be pondering how history has once again repeated itself and cost them yet another high-profile purchase this morning.
Cody Gakpo has been linked to a transfer away from PSV Eindhoven for months, but claims that the forward’s departure had finally been finalized and his new side, Liverpool, had been verified appeared late yesterday night. United supporters must have had a hard time accepting their good fortune after reading the same stories.
Instead, he will be lining up in the red of Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp’s team paid a rumored £45 million to recruit Gakpo.
According to a PSV statement: “Cody Gakpo’s future move has been agreed upon between PSV and Liverpool FC. The 23-year-old striker will fly out right now for England to complete the appropriate paperwork for the transfer.”
Both parties to the transaction have not yet made the amount paid public, however PSV general manager Marcel Brands did state that “this is a record trade for PSV.” On Boxing Day, the Dutch giants’ management finalised the move and gave Gakpo the go-ahead to visit England.
AIR YOUR VIEWS! Will Liverpool’s acquisition of Gakpo be a success? Comment below.
For the United supporters who were present when it appeared like Sadio Mane might be joining the Red Devils, this entire drama is sure to bring back terrible memories.
While Louis van Gaal was in charge at Old Trafford, Mane attracted interest and there was an effort to sign him. The Dutchman recently revealed United were anxious to get the Senegal international.
The former manager of the Netherlands told Dutch news outlet NOS that Sadio Mane is a great team player and that is why he was someone he really wanted to get (for Manchester United). These are challenging opponents to play against.
Mane himself corroborated the story in an interview with the Daily Telegraph in May of this year, saying he had a contract in place with United until Liverpool swooped in.
“I must admit that I came very, very close to joining Manchester United. The deal was already mine. I had everything arranged. It was all set up, but I decided that I wanted to travel to Liverpool instead.
“I was persuaded to support (Jürgen) Klopp’s initiative. I can very clearly recall the first time Klopp called me. We have a significant initiative at Liverpool, and I want you to be involved, he declared.
“Then, in order to see what I wanted at Southampton, he inquired what job I desired.” I alternated between playing on the right and left sides of the field. He responded, “But (Philippe) Coutinho is on the left!” when I stated that I preferred the left.
“So I decided to play to the right and replied, “Never mind.” I recognized myself in each posture.”
After choosing to reside in the red half of Merseyside rather than the red half of Manchester, Mane went on to establish himself as a legitimate Liverpool icon during his six years at Anfield.
Gakpo will have been a good deal if he can enjoy even half of what Mane did while wearing a Liverpool jersey. United may come to regret not signing him if they are once again outperformed by their rivals.
