Man Utd target Cody Gakpo's five best moments

Karan Tejwani

• 11 Aug 2022 14:23 BST
• 4 min read

Manchester United are interested in a deal for PSV’s Cody Gakpo, having missed out on their other targets and are looking to add him to their squad to bolster their attack.

The Dutch winger can play across the attack, and Erik ten Hag is an admirer of the player, having seen first hand how dangerous he can be when he was Ajax manager.

United are looking to get a deal done before the end of the transfer window, and they’re wanting to add a player of high calibre who’s had some big moments in his young career.

Here are five of the biggest moments in Cody Gakpo’s career.

Related articles

Out of contract in 2022: The best free agents available on a Bosman

Football Transfer News LIVE: Tomiyasu signs new Arsenal contract

Premier League 2022/23 summer transfers: All the completed deals

Fortuna Sittard

Fortuna Sittard isn’t the greatest opponent or even one of PSV’s rivals, but this game against them in March 2019 carried some great significance for Gakpo.

He had played a few times for PSV’s senior team before this, but it was against Fortuna Sittard that he scored his first goal, after coming on as a substitute.

Gakpo even provided an assist, as he set up Luuk de Jong’s goal, in a 5-0 romp for PSV as the winger announced his arrival on the scene.

Dutch debut

Gakpo had an impressive 2020-21 season, as he scored eight goals and had big moments throughout the season, prompting call-ups to the Dutch national team.

It never came during the campaign, but ahead of the European Championships, Frank de Boer called up the PSV winger, and he made his debut for the national team against North Macedonia.

The journey was short-lived as the Dutch went out in the Round of 16, but Gakpo got a taste of international football as is now a mainstay in the side.

Europe 2021/22

This is a collection of Gakpo’s finest moments, rather than just one, as he made a mark on the European scene with PSV in the 2021/22 season.

This was meant to be Gakpo’s breakthrough campaign, and he proved it, bagging seven goals in three different European competitions: the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

There was an impressive portfolio of opponents too, ranging from Benfica to Real Sociedad, Monaco to Copenhagen and more, as Gakpo showed his best.

Cup final winner

The biggest moment of Gakpo’s young career is his goal in the KNVB Beker final against Ajax, as PSV came from behind to beat their old rivals.

The Eindhoven side were down 1-0 at half-time, and Erick Gutierrez equalized for PSV soon after the restart, giving PSV the momentum.

It took Gakpo’s genius just two minutes later, beating Edson Alvarez and Davy Klaasen before releasing a fierce shot, to give PSV the lead, and they held on for the win.

Dutch Player of the Year

Gakpo provided 12 goals and 13 assists in the Eredivisie in the 2021/22 season, and 21 goals and 15 assists across all competitions as he had a starring season.

That meant he was named the Dutch Footballer of the Year by fellow professionals, as many recognised his talents and growing importance for PSV.

Individually, he couldn’t have done more as PSV won the cup and finished just two points behind Ajax in the Eredivisie title race.