Van Nistelrooy won't block Gakpo Man Utd transfer

Stuart Telford

• 17 Dec 2022 16:03 CST
• 3 min read

PSV Eindhoven head coach and Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy says his current employers won't block Cody Gakpo's path to Old Trafford.

PSV would rather keep Gakpo until the end of the current campaign, but they are willing to negotiate a winter transfer if it boils down to it.

The versatile attacker has enjoyed a stunning first half of the season for PSV, plundering 13 goals and 17 assists at a rate of one every 65 minutes he played. He then added three goals in three group stage games at the World Cup with the Netherlands.

READ: Cody Gakpo: PSV go public with asking price for Man Utd transfer target

Gakpo's stock has never been higher, and PSV will consider a winter move for their star player.

"I'll give him his path, whenever that comes," Van Nistelrooy told Dutch daily Eindhovens Dagblad on Saturday following a 2-1 friendly win over Sassuolo. "The World Cup? That was fun. I really enjoyed Cody. He deserved this, because of how he's conducted himself.

"I've been able to help him at close quarters and that makes be proud. You know, there may come a time when you can't say 'no'. Various scenarios have been discussed in advance withing the club and it's ultimately about the interests of PSV. That must always be well considered."

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Record fee expected

Van Nistelrooy, who scored 150 goals in 219 appearances with Man Utd between 2001 and 2006, realises that Gakpo may have already played his last game for PSV. The 23-year-old's contract at Philips Stadion expires in June 2026.

PSV quoted United a fee of €50 million including bonuses last summer, and the Eindhoven side won't settle for any less following his impressive showing in Qatar. United dropped out a week before the summer transfer deadline last time around.

The Premier League giants now face competition for Gakpo's signature from clubs such as Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich, which means PSV will almost certainly shatter their record transfer sale, which is the €45m achieved for Hirving Lozano's move to Napoli in 2019.