Man Utd need to break ‘record transfer’ to sign World Cup star in January; attacker ‘would like to go’

Man Utd have been told that they will have to break a “record transfer” if they want to sign Netherlands and PSV attacker Cody Gakpo in January.

The winger was one player who was targeted by Man Utd in the summer but they instead opted to spend around £85m to sign Antony from Ajax.

Gakpo would have been much cheaper during the previous window as he was available for around £25m.

His reputation has gone through the roof over the past few months, though. He has grabbed nine goals and 12 assists in just 14 Eredivisie appearances this term.

The Netherlands attacker then scored three goals at the World Cup as Louis van Gaal’s reached the quarter-finals.

Gakpo’s form of late has made it so a move to the Premier League is likely in January and he has made it clear that he wants to join Man Utd. 

The Red Devils have benefitted from Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit so they have more funds at their disposal ahead of January. His early departure has saved them around £16m in unpaid wages.

But PSV director of football Marcel Brands has warned interested clubs that it “must be a record transfer” for them to sell Gakpo in January.

“You have to be realistic. When you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag, how many clubs are able to buy a player of that calibre? You are talking about maybe 10 or 12 clubs in Europe,” Brands told the PSV supporters’ club chat show Eeuwig Trouw.

“You have to need a player in that position and be able and willing to spend the money in January, which is normally less hectic than the summer. We have yet to see if it all happens. He has no clause or anything.

“And no amounts have been agreed on either. The agreements that were made were there before my time. Amounts have not been discussed, but if the right club comes that Cody would like to go.

“Those agreements were already made before I came. It must be a record transfer for PSV anyway. Then you know in which direction it should go.”

PSV’s current record sale is €45m as Napoli splashed out that fee to sign Hirving Lozano in 2019.

Brands has also suggested that Antony’s mega-money move to United has little bearing on Gakpo’s future.

“That had nothing to do with market conformity, but with a club that is in panic and a trainer who insisted on him. Many players have left for market value in recent times, such as Gabriel Jesus for £50m or Erling Haaland for 75 million euros,” Brands said.

“In the media, it seems like all the clubs are lining up, but the reality is that we don’t know anything about interest or anything yet. It’s quiet. I’ve spoken to Cody.

“He’s going on vacation for 10 days. If something is at play, it is perhaps known to Cody or his management, but not to us yet.”

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