Mueez Ajao
– Cody Gakpo has struggled to settle into life in the Premier League, with Liverpool’s poor form not helping the situation, new Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has said.
– Gakpo, 23, moved to Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven last month but in six starts he has yet to score.
– Liverpool have failed to win in the league since the turn of the year, and were most recently thrashed 3-0 by Wolves. Koeman said their bad run of form does not benefit Gakpo’s game.
Also Read: Gakpo deal will impact Liverpool’s January business – Klopp
– “You can see that, that he has ended up in a team that is not doing well,” Koeman added. “Then it becomes more difficult for him, as a new signing. You are tested right away. And if you don’t score or you’re not important and you don’t win any matches, it’s very difficult, especially for a young player. If that’s was someone aged 28 with experience, it would be different.”
– Koeman said it was good to have young Dutch players moving to bigger leagues but it could also be difficult for them.
– “The level in England is higher than in the Netherlands, but they are also young boys, aren’t they? Like [Ryan] Gravenberch going to Bayern [Munich] and not playing. Then that is difficult,” he said on a YouTube show hosted by former footballer Andy van der Meyde.
– The new Netherlands coach, who began his second stint in charge on Jan. 1, said he was keeping a keen eye on all Dutch exports as he considers his first selection for March’s kick off of the Euro 2024 qualifiers.
– Koeman’s side take on France and Gibraltar in March.
