Report: ‘Good chance’ 22-year-old Liverpool have held ‘exploratory talks’ with will move this summer

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There’s a “good chance” that Cody Gakpo will leave PSV this summer, with Liverpool a possible destination. That comes via a report from Dutch outlet VI this morning.

The report claims that the 22-year-old has spoken to Liverpool about a possible move. Although those conversations are reported to have been only “exploratory talks” for the moment. Manchester City are also said to have spoken to the player.

It goes on to propose that although talk of his departure is “gaining momentum”, the Dutch winger could even still extend his contract at PSV. This would purely be to ensure that Gakpo’s current club can get extract maximum value on his sale.

Gakpo’s deal runs until 2025. But PSV reportedly want to make the youth academy product their biggest ever sale, which is why he may extend his contract for a further year.

PSV are said to be looking for more than the £36m they received from Napoli for Hirving Lozano.

Who is he

Gakpo isn’t one of the more glamorous names that Liverpool have been linked with to bolster their forward line. But The Reds do their homework on all potential signings and this looks to be no different.

He is a right-footed left-winger, which in Liverpool terms means he plays very much in the Sadio Mane role.

Six goals and 10 assists in the Eredivisie this season represents a very healthy tally. Since breaking into the side as a 19-year-old, Gakpo has 21 goals in 80 top division games.

He has also scored goals in Europe for the Dutch side. His two goals in this season’s Champions League qualifiers weren’t enough to take PSV to the group stages. But he has two goals in four Europa League games since then.

Part of the Dutch squad at Euro 2020, the winger made his international debut during the competition. He has a total of four caps and one goal for the team captained by Virgil Van Dijk.

Gakpo was recently name-checked by The Athletic as someone of interest to Liverpool in a piece exploring “sensible transfers” for the club.

Much like the oft-linked Jarrod Bowen, he would fit the profile of what Liverpool will look for in a new, attacking signing. Whether the story has legs or not, we’ll have to wait and see.