Luis Diaz injury threatens Man Utd’s Gakpo transfer

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 3 min read

An injury for Liverpool winger Luis Diaz could completely change the future of PSV winger Cody Gakpo, who has been linked with a January transfer to Manchester United.

Although the Red Devils have been cast as the favourites to land the star performer of Netherlands’ run to the World Cup 2022 quarter-finals, Jurgen Klopp’s side are another club that have taken a keen interest in the 23-year-old.

As recently as 30 November, the Reds were reported by Voetbal International to be entering talks with PSV,

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It would be little surprise to see Liverpool step up their chase for Gakpo in the wake of Luis Diaz’s injury, meanwhile.

Klopp described the problem to the Colombian as a “smack in the face” for the Reds, with the winger expected to be on the sidelines until the middle of March with a knee problem sustained during training in their mid-season camp in Dubai.

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Gakpo can solve Liverpool’s problems

Liverpool indicated at the peak of their injury crisis earlier this season that they would not make purchases for the sake of it, but the beauty of Gakpo for them is that he can solve a multitude of problems.

In the short term, the PSV man can cover off Diaz on the left of the midfield while in the longer term he is versatile enough to step into the centre of the attack and offer an alternative for Roberto Firmino should he depart at the end of his contract.

Capable of playing across the front three, he could also be a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah, who will turn 31 in June.

Given that Gakpo is a player that Liverpool have scouted for some time, this would not be a panic buy – it would be a case of a potential transfer target being signed potentially ahead of schedule. This is the pragmatic stance that the Reds took last January when they added Diaz to their squad as interest in the Colombia winger grew.

Speaking in November, Gakpo told NOS he is open to a move to either Liverpool or Man Utd: “Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. It would be an honour to play there, but I also have to see what kind of team I can best achieve my goals.”

Manchester United, then, have to be wary. They may be the favourites for Gakpo, but Liverpool have new reason to launch a serious transfer offensive for one of the hottest properties for the January window.