‘This is not 2022’ – Pundit shocked by Gakpo fee after Dutch star completes Liverpool transfer
Former Chelsea midfielder Craig Burley thinks Liverpool have agreed “one of the great bits of business” to bring Cody Gakpo to Anfield.
The Reds announced on Wednesday that they had completed the signing of Gakpo for an undisclosed fee, subject to a work permit being granted.
Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven have both kept the fee under wraps but a report earlier this week claimed that the Premier League side will pay an initial £37m with the deal potentially rising to £44m with add-ons.
The length of his contract at Liverpool is also undisclosed but the same report insisted that the Reds will pay another £38m in wages and agents fees with Gakpo signing a six-year deal.
And Burley has been impressed that Liverpool have managed to sign Gakpo – who scored three goals at the World Cup – for the same price as a “one-season wonder” from the Championship.
Burley told ESPN: “I look at this player and I think it’s one of the great bits of business, I really do. I keep looking at the fee. I keep looking at the fee and thinking, ‘no, this is not 2022, this is 2012, 2010 or 2009’.
“The guy is 23, when I look at him as a player and the left-hand side is his best position, but I look at this guy, who for me could play in several positions if need be and could adapt.
“He’s got the physical attributes, and yes, he will have to step those up. And it will be a step up for him. We know he can score goals. We know he has those attributes I talked about. We know he is flexible.
“And £37m? I mean, you go to the Championship and you get somebody who has had a one-season wonder and you are going to be paying £25m, £35m or £40m-plus for somebody.
“If they were bringing him in at £80m or £90m, then you would be like ‘oooh’. This is a terrific piece of business from Liverpool and I think it’s a great move for the player as well. Going into that club, the way they play, with this manager, it’s great business all-round.”
And Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp can’t wait to start working with Gakpo after meeting him at the club’s training base yesterday.
Klopp told the club’s official website: “There is a lot to like about Cody. He is still only 23 years old but he already has a lot of experience.
“He was the captain of PSV, he was the player of the year in Holland last season and, as a lot of people have just seen, he also had a great World Cup with his national team.
“So, it is clear that he is already a really, really good player but his age also means he also has the potential to become even better.
“Offensively, he is very versatile and – on top of this – we know he is a smart footballer and also a smart person, so we are really excited to be able to work with him.”
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