Man Utd boosted in battle for Ronaldo successor as ‘it will be difficult’ for club to keep £43m star
Man Utd remain interested in PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo and it is being reported that “it will be difficult” for the Dutch side to keep him in January.
The Red Devils are now likely to sign a new attacker in January as Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit provides them with more funds.
The experienced forward officially departed Man Utd on Tuesday evening after he did all he could to secure himself a move elsewhere.
His interview with Piers Morgan made a contract termination an inevitability given that he hit out at Erik ten Hag and the Glazer family.
This is a clean break-up so United will be saving around £16m in unpaid wages that would have been owed to Ronaldo.
Naturally, they are going to be linked with several forwards in the coming weeks before the winter transfer window.
One player they are reportedly targeting is Netherlands and PSV star Gakpo.
Man Utd, Leeds United and Southampton were all in for him during the summer but a deal was not completed before the deadline.
If anything, this has spurred Gakpo on this season as he has grabbed 13 goals and 17 assists in just 24 games for PSV this term.
The 23-year-old also got on the scoresheet to help the Netherlands beat Senegal in their opening group game at the World Cup.
Man Utd have now been told that PSV may be forced to sell Gakpo if a club “comes forward with many millions”.
“If clubs of the calibre of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United come forward with many millions, it will be difficult to finish this season at PSV,” Dutch newspaper Eindhovens Dagblad states (via Sport Witness).
“Those clubs will have seen that Gakpo is not only a pure left winger but can also play at ten and can even play in the point of attack.
“Gakpo is now also on the map at the World Cup and now we are waiting for confirmation.
“If this follows in the coming games, PSV will have another huge task ahead of them in the winter break and a successor must be seriously looked at.”
Gakpo remains under contract until 2026 but it has consistently been stated that he is valued at around £43m.
A separate report from Italian outlet Calciomercato has stated that ‘Liverpool and above all Man Utd have taken more information than others’ in the hope of signing Gakpo.
It is also noted that it could ‘play into PSV’s hands’ if Gakpo shines for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
Man Utd legend Ruud van Nistelrooy is currently the manager of PSV and he recently acknowledged that “not only Premier League teams” are in for Gakpo.
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