Van Nistelrooy admits Gakpo could leave in January
Cody Gakpo impressed at the World Cup with the Netherlands, attracting admirers including Manchester United and Real Madrid.
PSV Eindhoven coach Ruud van Nistelrooy accepts that in-demand forward Cody Gakpo could leave the club in next month’s transfer window. Gakpo has been linked with a number of top European clubs after impressing at Qatar 2022 with the Netherlands. Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Liverpool are all reported to be interested in the 23-year-old.
Gakpo equals Altobelli feat
Gakpo equalled a feat only previously achieved once in World Cup history - becoming only the second player to open the scoring in all three games in the same group stage (Italy’s Alessandro Altobelli managed to do the same at Mexico 86). He failed to find the net in the knockout stages against the USMNT and Argentina, with the latter ending the Netherlands’ run on penalties at the quarter-final stage. PSV director of football Marcel Brands recently declared only a club-record fee would prise him away, and Van Nistelrooy will not stand in Gakpo’s way should he wish to leave.
“I enjoyed watching him [in Qatar]. He deserves this because of how he has behaved, how he’s continued to work and continued to perform,” Van Nistelrooy told Voetbal International. “I was able to help him from very close by and that makes me proud. And then I’ll give him his path when it comes. If I have the choice, I prefer the summer [window], but it can also be now. You just know there comes a time when you can’t say no.”
Gakpo has registered 17 goals and eight assists in 31 games this season, including a division-leading nine goals in the Eredivisie. Speaking during the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign, Gakpo said he will “think about” any interest that arrives from Manchester United, who showed an interest earlier this year. “I thought about Manchester United before, but when that didn’t happen I didn’t know anymore and started to doubt,” the player said. “Then Leeds United came and I wondered if I should go there. Now I’ll wait for everything. I haven’t heard from Manchester United yet, but when they come, I’ll think about it.”
PSV are not back in league action until 7 January when they play host to Sparta Rotterdam at Philips Stadium.