What Ronald Koeman thinks about Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo in the Netherlands national team

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Cody Gakpo has emerged as a key figure for Liverpool and the Netherlands national team in the past two years.

The former PSV Eindhoven attacker has fully embedded himself as a Premier League player, with Gakpo proving to be an incredible forward option for Liverpool as both a left-winger or a centre-forward under Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot.

Although Gakpo was not too impressive for the Netherlands in their recent 1-1 draw against Hungary, the winger still bagged an assist for Denzel Dumfries to ensure Ronald Koeman’s side came away from Budapest.

And the Netherlands manager has now shared what he thinks about Gakpo in the national team.

Gakpo viewed as one of the Netherlands’ new leaders

According to Voetbal Primeur, Koeman views Gakpo as one of the new leaders of the Netherlands national team, with the winger taking on a more senior role after three years as a regular for the Dutch.

With Gakpo showing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Euros this summer that he is a big player for the main occasion in international football, it is perhaps no real surprise why Koeman now views the Liverpool winger as a leader of sorts for the Oranje.

Indeed, Gakpo has proven himself to be a player who is mature way beyond his years having worn the captain’s armband during his time at PSV, with the winger now heading in a similar direction with the Netherlands.

And for Liverpool, Koeman giving Gakpo more responsibility could be huge in the winger finding a real role for himself at Anfield where this season the forward is yet to find his place under Slot in the first few weeks of the new campaign.

Gakpo can use international role to fuel his Liverpool career

With just three starts in all competitions for Liverpool this season, it’s safe to say Gakpo is yet to fully impress Slot, with the Dutch coach preferring Luis Diaz out on the left with Diogo Jota currently the starting striker for the Reds.

Yet with Gakpo taking on a bigger role with the Netherlands, the 25-year-old attacker can use this opportunity to fuel his Liverpool career and to put himself in the spotlight to be picked by Slot.

The Dutch international is clearly a valued member of the Liverpool squad, and becoming something more for the Netherlands could help Gakpo in his quest to get back in the starting XI under Slot on a regular basis.