- 4 hours ago
Man Utd and Real Madrid lead PSG in Gakpo race
Carlo Garganese
- Updated: 10 Jan 2023 17:45 GMT
- 3 min read
Manchester United and Real Madrid are the frontrunners in the race for PSV star Cody Gakpo, CBS reporter Ben Jacobs explains for FootballTransfers.
Gakpo has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in Europe this season for both club and country.
He had 13 goals and 17 assists from just 24 games for PSV in the first half of the season, and then added another three strikes for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
World Cup 2022: Teams, fixtures, results, favourites
Man Utd have been chasing Gakpo ever since they hired Erik ten Hag as manager this summer.
Indeed, they were close to signing the PSV attacker before the start of the season but couldn’t get a deal over the line. Real Madrid were also interested during the summer.
Man Utd are now understood to be preparing a new move in 2023.
PSV expect to lose Cody Gakpo 👋
But who will sign him? Man Utd? Real Madrid? Someone else?@jacobsben has the inside story 👇 pic.twitter.com/shJrdgPCcb— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) December 11, 2022
What did Ben Jacobs say about Gakpo?
“PSV are resigned to losing him,” Jacobs said.
“At the moment, there are two front-runners in Man Utd and Real Madrid. And then there are newer suitors like Bayern and PSG, who could come to the fore.
“Gakpo has already spoken about his future at the World CUp. He has acknowledged the Man Utd links, he has also confirmed there was an offer form Leeds and that he didn’t think they were quite the right move for him.
“I think that was the right decision, no disrespect to Leeds. But he has shown at this World Cup that he is ready to walk straight into a Champions League team.
“Man Utd and Madrid have put in the most groundwork. Man Utd have been as hands-on as possible. It seems like the possibility of a sale of Man Utd isn’t going to affect their January or summer windows. The Glazers aren’t going to rein in on any spending if they are still there during these windows.”
Gakpo was in action on Friday when Netherlands took on Argentina in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Argentina won on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw after extra time.
