What Cody Gakpo's Man Utd transfer hinges on
Robin Bairner
- Updated: 23 May 2023 08:46 CDT
- 3 min read
Manchester United have made PSV winger Cody Gakpo one of the leading targets for the closing weeks of the 2022 summer transfer window.
Erik ten Hag’s men have found transfers hard to conclude so far this summer. Deals have been done for Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen and Lisandro Martinez, yet the new Man Utd boss still finds himself short of a midfielder, despite ongoing interest in Adrien Rabiot.
Nevertheless, more attacking players are also wanted at Old Trafford, with Gakpo earmarked by Ten Hag as a potential deal that can be done. Indeed, it is FootballTransfers’ information that this is the transfer that Man Utd are likeliest to complete before the end of the window.
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If the transfer is to be completed, though, it is set to hinge on one crucial thing: PSV’s Champions League future.
The Eindhoven club face a playoff to reach the group stages with Rangers over the course of the next fortnight, with the second leg to be played in the Netherlands on 24 August. Should they win that match, they are set to struggle to land Gakpo – and they will certainly not get the 23-year-old before then
Gakpo has been told by his club that he will not be allowed to leave for any reason before the Champions League double header against the Scottish Premiership runners-up, with PSV having edged Monaco after extra-time to reach that juncture.
Gakpo on Man Utd transfer
Gakpo himself has admitted that any transfer is unlikely to come soon.
"We must first focus on and try to make it to the Champions League. Then it is more likely that I will stay," he said after the Monaco success.
Gakpo did admit, however, that there is a dialogue between himself and the PSV board over his future.
"I'm open for a cup of coffee with the management - or coffee for them and water for me. We'll see how it goes," he said.
Man Utd, then, will be hoping Rangers do them a favour by knocking out PSV and opening the door to a Gakpo transfer a little further.
