PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo has reportedly snubbed a move to Leeds United in hopes of securing a move to a bigger club.
The winger was subject to a late deadline day approach from the Yorkshire outfit in the summer but an agreement couldn’t be reached for him to move to Elland Road.
The Dutchman was also believed to be on the radar for Manchester United, with boss Erik ten Hag having experienced facing the PSV man while in charge of Ajax. However, the Red Devils went for Brazilian attacker Antony, whom Ten Hag had worked closely with, instead.
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Gakpo is now once again back in the headlines because his form for PSV in 2022-23 has been exceptional. He has already been directly involved in 23 goals this season across all competitions with 13 goals and 10 assists.
Leeds were hopeful of resurrecting a deal for the 23-year-old in January, but he is setting his sights higher. Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has said that the player has got his eye on a move to either Manchester United, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich.
The wide man caught the eye last term when he had 25 goal involvements in Eredivisie, and his form has continued into this term as he sets himself up for a big-money move. Gakpo is also a regular international for the Netherlands and he is expected to be named in Louis van Gaal’s 23-man squad for the Qatar World Cup next month.
Despite his natural talent for being a winger, Van Gaal has been deploying him in behind the strikers and feels that Gakpo can flourish in that role. He said: “He prefers to play from the left. But I think he has everything to become a top player as a really good No 10.”
The scope that the international tournament will provide him shall see all the biggest clubs in the world monitoring how he performs closely ahead of making a swoop for one of Europe’s hottest prospects either in January or at the end of the season.
