PSV expect Real Madrid to move for Cody Gakpo

Talk coming out of the Netherlands suggest that a Real Madrid move to sign Cody Gakpo is inevitable. The PSV attacker and his Oranje teammates were knocked out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup in the quarter-finals by Argentina in a penalty shootout but the 23-year-old impressed throughout the tournament, starting all five of his country’s matches and scoring three goals in the group stage.

His performances have seen some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid, sit up and take notice. Gakpo fits the profile of attacking player Los Blancos are currently thought to looking to recruit: a promising young player with potential whose transfer fee wouldn’t be through the roof and who would be happy to start off as understudy to Karim Benzema, who would take on the role of his mentor. Real Madrid tried exactly that with Luka Jovic but the less said about the Serbian’s move to the Spanish capital, the better.

When could Real Madrid move to sign Cody Gakpo?

According to Transfermarkt, a website specialising in transfers and market values, Gakpo is worth €45 million ($47.93 million) although his valuation is set to rise on the back of his fine displays at the 2022 World Cup. And in the Netherlands, links to Real Madrid have begun to surface, with PSV legend René van de Kerkhof claiming there is firm interest from the Spanish giants.

Van de Kerkhof was a prominent name during the golden years of Dutch football, when the Netherlands reached two World Cup finals (1974 and 1978). He spent the majority of his career at PSV, where he won three league titles, two domestic cups and a UEFA Cup.

Along with twin brother Willy, also a Dutch international who won the European Cup with PSV in 1988, René runs a podcast about the Eindhoven club (De Willy & René PSV-podcast) and revealed in its latest episode that Real Madrid have given serious consideration to making a move for Gakpo.

“I have a reliable source in Spain who has told me that Real Madrid want to sign Cody Gakpo as Karim Benzema’s successor,” a claim that was seconded by Willy. “What I’ve heard is that they’re seriously interested in Gakpo exists but that PSV wouldn’t sell hm for less than €75 million ($79.85 million) in the January transfer window. Although that amount wouldn’t be a problem for Madrid.”

Real Madrid have no plans to make a move in January as they are confident that the World Cup break has allowed Benzema to get over the fitness issues that have plagued him in the last few months and that the Frenchman will be back to his best for the remainder of the season, ably supported by Vinicius, Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Fede Valverde. But as far as next summer goes, Real Madrid are expected to go after Gakpo and may use a familiar face to do so: Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Which clubs are interested in Cody Gakpo?

The current PSV manager made his mark during his spell as a player at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, scoring 64 goals and providing 16 assists in 96 games for Real Madrid. He won two league titles and one Spanish Super cup during his time in the Spanish capital. Van Nistelrooy was appointed as PSV boss in March this year and before the World Cup predicted that it wouldn’t take long for bigger clubs to start showing interest in Gakpo: “There have been rumours about him since the beginning of the season but they haven’t affected Cody at all. He’s not distracted, he’s totally focused on what he needs to do and on his next game. It’s really special to see that in such a young man.”

One of Real Madrid’s main rivals for Gakpo looks certain to be Manchester United, where van Nisterlrooy also played and arguably spent his peak years. The PSV coach might find it hard to choose between the two but it looks as if Gakpo will have to do just that, with at least Real Madrid expected to make a bid for him in the coming months.