Arsenal are now best positioned to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, despite interest from Liverpool.
That’s according to Voetbal International. They claim that Liverpool’s interest in the player will be inconsequential, as Arsenal are now in ‘pole position’ to tempt him away from PSV.
The report claims that there’s a ‘good chance’ that Gakpo will leave his club this summer, after signing a contract extension in January.
Bayern Munich and Manchester City are also claimed to be set to miss out to Arsenal.
Catching the eye
Liverpool have been said to be tracking Gakpo on several occasions over the course of this season (The Athletic, Voetbal International).
The 22-year-old has been having a very impressive campaign with his hometown club. Having scored eight goals and provided 13 assists in the Eredivisie this season, Gakpo has helped PSV push Ajax all the way in the title race.
Although he is currently injured, the Dutch international is expected to be back after the current international break. By the time the World Cup comes around next winter, it is likely that he will have a new club.
Falling behind
It will be a blow for Liverpool to lose out on a player as promising as the Dutch international.
But The Reds are thorough in their search for players. If they were convinced that Gakpo was a player who could improve the squad, it’s hard to imagine that they’d miss out to a club in a rebuilding phase, as Arsenal are.
Perhaps the only factor that Arsenal could have in their favour is that they can promise the winger immediate first-team football.
Gakpo is a player who operates primarily on the left-hand side of the attack. At Liverpool, he could find himself behind Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz and even Diogo Jota in that position.
Quite why Arsenal are now in pole position isn’t completely clear. But you can bet that if Liverpool were convinced to bring Gakpo to Anfield, The Reds would soon overtake their London counterparts in that respect.
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