Man Utd ‘fully expect’ to sign £45m ‘top target’ in January and Ten Hag has grand plan for forward
It is reportedly “fully expected” that Man Utd will sign PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo in January after deciding against recruiting him in the summer.
Gakpo was heavily linked with the Red Devils in the summer but it was believed that they would either sign him or Antony from Ajax.
Erik ten Hag has a great relationship with Antony from their time together in the Eredivisie so the manager preferred United signing him over Gakpo.
Ajax held firm and managed to get an initial £80m out of Man Utd for the winger.
United remain linked with Gakpo and this is pretty understandable given that he has been in stunning form this season.
Gakpo has grabbed 13 goals and 17 assists in just 24 outings for PSV this term. He also scored three goals for the Netherlands at the World Cup.
The forward is back on United’s radar as they are looking to sign an attacker to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 37-year-old’s premature exit also provides United with more funds as he would have been paid around £16m in wages up until the summer had he stayed until then.
Gakpo was valued at £25m in the summer but his recent form has increased his valuation to around £45m.
This does not appear to be deterring United as earlier this month it was claimed that they are in the ‘driving seat’ to sign him.
Now TEAMtalk transfer expert Graeme Bailey is reporting that the transfer is “expected” to happen in January.
He also notes that Ten Hag thinks Gakpo “offers something that they don’t have”.
“Cody Gakpo is now emerging as Manchester United top target for the New Year, and the club’s hierarchy have greenlighted his arrival and we fully expect this to happen,” Bailey told TEAMtalk.
“United have done their homework on him and he is primed for a move to the North West.
“Erik Ten Hag has wanted Gakpo since the summer, no denying that. And he fully believes he offers something that they don’t have – whether that is a Cristiano Ronaldo replacement we are not sure.
“Ten Hag is clearly building something at Old Trafford and United’s hierarchy believe in him. Part of that is backing him, and letting him make the decisions.
“I firmly believe this is the right path for United and we are seeing it, like with the David De Gea decision too.
“Is Gakpo a gamble? Of course, any player from the Dutch league is – we have seen that throughout recent years.
“For every Luis Suarez, there is an Alfonso Alves, or Mateja Kezman or Davy Klaasen. But Ten Hag clearly thinks Gakpo has all the attributes to succeed in England.”
Gakpo has proven in recent months that he is capable of playing all across for forward line.
It is likely that Ten Hag sees him as a potential starter up front so he can compete with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
