Gakpo and six big transfers that were HIJACKED this season

Karan Tejwani

• Updated: 27 Dec 2022 18:34 GMT
• 4 min read

Liverpool have completed the signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV, fending off interest from Manchester United to sign the Dutchman.

The attacker had seemed set to join United in January but Liverpool jumped in on Boxing Day to sign him in a deal that could be worth an eventual €57 million.

In a season of transfer hijackings, Gakpo is just the latest.

Here are six transfers that were snatched in 2022-23.

Cody Gakpo

Gakpo was one of Manchester United's main targets during the summer of 2022, and the English giants even agreed personal terms with the player in August.

However, United couldn’t get a deal over the line with PSV and they were forced to wait until the January transfer window to complete the transfer. It seemed a formality that United would sign Gakpo in January 2023, but Liverpool jumped in to hijack the deal on Boxing Day.

Liverpool closed a deal with PSV that could reach €57m, while Gakpo agreed a six-year contract.

Marc Cucurella

For much of the summer, Manchester City were close to signing Cucurella from Brighton, with the player earning admiration from Pep Guardiola.

The City boss was keen to bring him over, and the club even sanctioned the sale of Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal to allow the move to happen.

However, the Premier League champions only wanted to pay £30 million, while Brighton wanted £50 million, allowing Chelsea to swoop in.

Raphinha

Raphinha attracted plenty of interest over the last season, but this summer, it was a fight between Barcelona and Chelsea for his signature.

At one point, Chelsea looked close to securing his signature, with Barcelona trying to weave their way through their financial issues for the deal.

Eventually, Barcelona got their money through their economic levers, asked Raphinha to be patient, agreed a deal with Leeds and got the Brazilian winger.

Jules Kounde

This signing is similar to that of Raphinha, with Barcelona and Chelsea battling it out for Sevilla’s French defender, who admitted his desire to leave the club.

Chelsea were, once again, close to signing him, agreed a deal but, according to Sevilla director Monchi, they pulled out of it at the last minute.

Barcelona, though, were always keen, and asked Kounde to be patient as they waited for funds, eventually getting it and signing the defender.

Tyrell Malacia

Malacia was Erik ten Hag’s first signing at Manchester United, as the former Ajax boss secured the signature of the Feyenoord left-back at the last minute.

Malacia was set for a move to Ligue 1 side Lyon, with the two clubs even agreeing a fee, but Manchester United were always keen on him.

Eventually, the Red Devils swooped in, quickly agreed a deal and got the signing over the line and it’s didn’t end too badly for Lyon either: they signed Ajax’s Nicolas Tagliafico.

Bremer

It’s believed that Inter had a deal with Torino for Brazilian defender Bremer for seven months, and somehow, they didn’t land the centre-back.

Inter mulled over the deal, and were slow to take action, and that allowed Juventus to step in, seeing the opportunity and brining him in.

The Old Lady lost Matthijs de Ligt to Bayern Munich, but made a statement in securing Bremer, as he was named the league’s best defender last season.