‘Told me’: Lijnders told Klopp to sign ‘electric’ Liverpool man, now reports say he wants £43m World Cup star

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Pep Lijnders reportedly wants to sign Cody Gakpo for Liverpool. The Reds’ coach suggested a signing earlier this year that worked out well.

Pep Lijnders supposedly wants Liverpool to sign Cody Gakpo in 2023. The Dutchman is enjoying a sensational season with PSV Eindhoven, scoring nine and assisting 12 in 14 Eredivisie appearances.

Now he’s shining at the World Cup, too. He’s scored in both of the Netherlands’ fixtures, with his latest effort being truly incredible. Gakpo looks like one of the early stars of the tournament – no wonder Lijnders wants him, then.

That’s according to Hans Kraay on Dutch TV, anyway. He believes the Liverpool assistant manager wants Gakpo at the club and is the one pushing for his signing. And Kraay appears to believe the player is definitely leaving for somewhere soon.

But will Liverpool listen to Lijnders? The signs suggest ‘yes’, given his previous recommendation.

Pep Lijnders pushes for Cody Gakpo

“I’m not sure but Vitor [Matos] probably watches all Porto games and Pep a lot of them, and they were very early and told me, ‘That’s a very interesting boy there and we should have a closer look’,” said Jurgen Klopp per the Liverpool Echo. “Since then we are watching him.”

That’s what Klopp said about Liverpool signing Luis Díaz last January. Lijnders was instrumental in pushing for his transfer – something he reportedly also did with Diogo Jota.

Described as ‘electric’ by teammates, Díaz has been a revelation in 2022. With that fresh in the memory, Liverpool will listen to Lijnders if he truly is determined to take Gakpo to Liverpool.

Calciomercato claim he’d cost around £43m this winter. It’s a high price for someone out of the Eredivisie, of course, but with how Gakpo is playing right now? That could end up being a bargain. If Lijnders really is backing this one, Gakpo could well be near the top of Liverpool’s January shortlist.