Manchester United are preparing to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo, who is valued at £35million.
United boss Eric Ten Hag, who shares the same agency as Gakpo, is keen to sign the 23-year-old to bolster his attack.
Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Marasia have already been signed on defense this summer, along with midfielder Christian Eriksen, but the Dutch have yet to bolster their front line.
With Anthony Martial currently injured and Cristiano Ronaldo’s future in doubt, United are looking for more options up front.
They missed striker Benjamin Sesco, who is joining RB Leipzig next summer, and recently withdrew interest in Bologna’s Marco Arnautovic.
United have spent much of the window chasing main forward target Anthony, but Ajax plan to keep him and say it will require just £70m to change. It became clear long ago.
Gakpo, now managed by former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, has emerged as a longer-term solution to the lack of quality options in the forward division.
The Dutch international is from PSV’s academy and scored 21 goals in 47 appearances last season.
PSV’s stance is that if a club with strong financial strength enters, it will be impossible to retain star players.
Meanwhile, United have agreed a deal for Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.
There is still work to be done until the transfer is complete, and personal terms will need to be negotiated with his agent and mother Veronique, but it is expected to go well.
“Gakpo Players Ten Hagu Knows”
Sky Sports News Senior Reporter Melissa Reddy said on The Transfer Show:
“Manchester United are preparing an offer for PSV winger Cody Gakpo.
“They’ve been saying for a long time that they have a different attacking target. I wouldn’t surprise anyone if I said this was the player Eric ten Hag knew.
“The presence of Ruud van Nistelrooy in PSV’s dugout could help smooth things over. PSV have a public stance of wanting to keep key players, but ultimately the club is If you have a primary source of funding, they know they can’t do it… turn it down.
“He’s versatile and can play as a central player if needed. This is another player who wonders why United didn’t try this earlier. He is represented by SEG, who represent Ten Hag. ing.
“Ahead of the Champions League qualifiers, PSV know they don’t want to listen to any offers until their place in the tournament is confirmed.
“If this had been done at the beginning of the window, it would have been a different story and less important.”
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Eric ten Haag’s first Premier League match for Manchester United was a 2-1 loss to Brighton at Old Trafford.
Supporters came in hoping to see some progress under the new coach, but instead it was the old blunders that proved the difference…
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