Tag: Cody Gakpo

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Holland boss Koeman blames Liverpool for Gakpo’s “poor” start

Cody Gakpo

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.

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Gakpo deal will impact Liverpool’s January business – Klopp

Cody Gakpo and Jurgen Klopp

Mueez Ajao

– Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said on Thursday that Cody Gakpo did not need convincing to join the club, despite Netherlands teammate Virgil van Dijk talking to the forward before his move from PSV Eindhoven.

– Klopp’s side beat Manchester United to the signing of the Dutch forward for a transfer fee which sources told that was worth around Β£37 million ($45m).

– Klopp described the signing as a “home run” and said the 23-year-old did not need to be persuaded to join the club.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Liverpool confirm signing of PSV star Gakpo

– When asked whether Van Dijk spoke to Gakpo before signing, Klopp said: “Before he technically signed, yes, but Virg was involved from a specific moment on. But we didn’t tell him ‘Talk to him’ because there was no reason for it. When I was allowed to speak to him, I spoke to him.

– “There are some of these nice moments when you are manager of Liverpool FC and you realise you think you have to convince somebody and then you realise during your talk, ‘Oh, the door is wide open, it’s more or less a home run.’ And it was cool.

– “So we didn’t need Virgil to convince him. But after that, obviously Virgil likes to be involved in these kind of things and from a specific moment on he had his say as well. But all good.”

– Upon signing for the club, Gakpo said Van Dijk had told him a move to Liverpool would help the forward to “develop and to become a better player.”

– “What he told me was that this is the right move for me to make and for me to develop and to become a better player, that the club is a really big and massive club but also like a real family,” Gakpo told the club’s website.

– “I think that’s also very important for me because I’m a family guy. He said only good things. I’m also happy that he’s here, so he can help me with some stuff.”

– Gakpo will officially become a Liverpool player on Jan. 1. Klopp said “there might be a chance” he could make his debut in their clash with Brentford a day later, but suggested their FA Cup match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Jan. 7 was a more realistic date.

– “What I heard now, we are obviously very early, which is good, but there might be a chance for Brentford — but I think not really, to be honest,” he said.

– “Because obviously the first of January is a Bank Holiday and then all the papers, which we don’t have to sign but some other people, will have to be signed on the 2nd until lunchtime. I’m not too positive that that will happen but we will not rush it anyway. So, probably Wolves.”

– Liverpool, who return to Premier League action against Leicester City on Friday, are sixth in the table — five points off fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game in hand.

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OFFICIAL: Liverpool confirm signing of PSV star Gakpo

Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Liverpool have signed forward Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

– Phenomenal reported that the transfer fee is around Β£37 million ($45m). PSV did not disclose the value of the deal, but general manager Marcel Brands said it will be a “record transfer” for the club.

– Liverpool beat Manchester United to the signing of Gakpo. United boss Erik ten Hag was keen to sign the Netherlands international as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the club in November.

Also Read: OFFICIAL: PSV reach agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Gakpo

– Gakpo, 23, emerged as a star of the World Cup in Qatar, scoring three goals for the Netherlands before their quarterfinal elimination at the hands of eventual champions Argentina.

– The tournament came in the middle of a fruitful campaign in the Dutch Eredivisie for Gakpo. He contributed nine goals and 12 assists in 14 appearances for PSV this season. He also added three goals and two assists in five Europa League matches for the club.

– With Colombia international Luis Diaz facing an extended period on the sidelines for a knee injury he aggravated during a midseason training break in Dubai, Liverpool stepped up their pursuit to sign Gakpo in the January window.

– Leeds United and Southampton targeted a transfer for the left-sided forward last summer, and United boss Ten Hag persuaded the club to consider a move for the player late in the summer window.

– It is the second time within a year that Liverpool beat United to a signing, after they also pipped the Old Trafford club to the signing of Darwin Nunez in the summer.

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OFFICIAL: PSV reach agreement with Liverpool for the transfer of Gakpo

Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Liverpool have beaten Manchester United in the race to sign winger Cody Gakpo after agreeing a deal with PSV, the Dutch side announced on Monday.

– Sources have told that the fee of the deal is around Β£37 million and that the sides are close to finalising his arrival in the January transfer window. PSV did not disclose the value of the deal, but general manager Marcel Brands said it will be a “record transfer” for the club.

– The Dutch club said in a statement: “PSV and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement on the proposed transfer of Cody Gakpo. The 23-year-old attacker will leave for England imminently where he will be subjected to the necessary formalities ahead of the completion of the transfer.”

Also Read: Liverpool kick off project restart with win on Boxing day in Villa

– Gakpo, 23, emerged as a star of the World Cup in Qatar by scoring three goals for the Netherlands before their quarterfinal elimination at the hands of eventual champions Argentina.

– With Colombia international Luis Diaz facing an extended period on the sideline after aggravating a knee injury during a midseason training break in Dubai, Liverpool have accelerated attempts to bolster their forward line by moving for Gakpo.

– The left-sided forward was a top target for Leeds and Southampton during the summer, and United manager Erik ten Hag persuaded the Old Trafford club to consider a move for the player late in the summer window.

– United had been eyeing a renewed move for Gakpo in January after the club’s decision to cancel Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract in November.

– But having beaten United to the signing of Darwin Nunez in June, Liverpool are now set to do the same again by sealing a move for Gakpo when the winter transfer window opens on Sunday, Jan 1.

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The Netherlands cruise into next round

Daley Blind, Memphis Depay and Frenkie De Jong

Mueez Ajao

– Cody Gakpo netted his third goal in three games as the Netherlands comfortably beat World Cup hosts Qatar 2-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium on Tuesday to secure top spot in Group A and advance to the knockout stages.

– The Dutch, who finished with seven points from their three group games, will be joined in the last 16 by Senegal, who knocked out Ecuador by beating them 2-1 to end up second on six points.

– The Qataris had been eliminated after their 3-1 loss to Senegal and despite huge investment in state-of-the-art facilities to host the World Cup, they came up short again on the pitch.

Also Read: Ecuador hold The Netherlands to draw

– They were not without their moments in a dull first half, forcing a couple of corners and threatening on the edge of the Dutch area, but no sooner had they bared their teeth than they were hit with a gut-punch of a goal by Gakpo.

– Davy Klaassen played an inviting ball into the path of the 23-year-old and he received it at pace, slicing through the heart of the defence before dispatching a well-placed shot past Meshaal Bersham to open the scoring in the 26th minute.

Cody Gakpo

– Four minutes into the second half the Dutch struck again as a cross from Klaassen made its way to Depay and the Qatari defence was caught ball-watching as his shot was saved, allowing Frenkie de Jong to bundle it into the net.

Memphis Depay and Frenkie De Jong

– With Qatar lacking the quality to mount a comeback, the Dutch had a goal ruled out after Gakpo was judged to have handled the ball in the build-up, but they still coasted to victory.

– The final whistle signalled the start of the short wait for the Dutch to find out which of the Group B teams — England, Wales, Iran or the United States — they will meet in the last 16.

– Asian champions Qatar will go back to the role of tournament hosts and plotting the future of the game in their country.

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Late goals give Netherlands win over Senegal in WC opener

Frenkie De Jong and Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Two late goals from the Netherlands sealed a crucial victory in their World Cup opener against Senegal in Group A.

– PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo beat Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to the ball when it was chipped in by Frenkie de Jong to nod the Dutch in front with six minutes remaining.

Cody Gakpo

– Substitute Davy Klaassen then pounced on a rebound from Memphis Depay’s shot to add a second deep into stoppage-time to confirm the success.

Also Read: Netherlands forward Depay ruled out of World Cup opener against Senegal

– Gakpo whirled away in celebration in front of the Senegal fans behind the goal as the Dutch supporters, together in a sea of orange at the other end of the Al Thumama Stadium, rose to their feet.

Frenkie De Jong and Cody Gakpo

– They were already chanting their team’s name as they knew victory was near before Klaassen made sure in the ninth and final minute of injury time.

Davy Klaassen

– Senegal, who had threatened throughout the match, came close to equalising before that when Papa Gueye fired a finish towards the bottom left corner, but Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert got his fingertips to it.

– It was a match that teased a goal for long periods but both sides lacked ruthlessness. Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal even risked the fitness of Depay to bring him on as a second-half substitute in the hope of finding a way through.

– The risk paid off as the Netherlands secured a vital three points in a game many believe could decide the winners of Group A.

– They now sit joint-top in the group with Ecuador, who beat hosts Qatar 2-0 on Sunday evening.

– Senegal, without injured key forward Sadio Mane during the competition, looked like a side missing their main attacking threat but can take confidence from the number of times they troubled the Dutch defence.

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Man United register interest in PSV winger Cody Gakpo

Cody Gakpo

Mueez Ajao

– Manchester United have registered their interest in PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.

– Gakpo’s representatives have been alerted to United’s interest by recruitment staff at Old Trafford but the club have yet to submit a bid.

– Gakpo is valued at around Β£35 million by PSV, who are managed by former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, and sources have told that they are unlikely to accept anything less for one of their star players.

Also Read: Man Utd in talks to sign Rabiot from Juventus

– The 23-year-old came through the club’s academy and scored 21 goals in 47 games last season. He has been capped seven times by the Netherlands, scoring twice.

– Sources added there is interest from other Premier League clubs in Gakpo, who scored twice in PSV’s 4-1 opening-day win against FC Emmen on Saturday, but that he would be keen to move to United if terms are agreed.

– United have turned their attention to Gakpo, who impressed manager Erik ten Hag while in charge at Ajax, after being priced out of a move for Ajax winger Antony and missing out on RB Salzburg forward Benjamin Sesko, who will join RB Leipzig next summer after his signing was announced on Tuesday.

– Meanwhile, United are closing in on the signing of Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

– A fee of Β£15.5m rising to Β£19.5m has been provisionally agreed with the Serie A club and negotiations on personal terms are underway.

– Sources have told that United are pushing ahead with talks while remaining in the hunt for Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.

– Sources added that Ten Hag called Rabiot to speak with him on Monday and the Juventus midfielder appreciated the conversation with the Dutchman.

– Centre-back Eric Bailly is hoping to make progress on his desire to leave Old Trafford later this week, sources added.

– Bailly was left in the stands for the 2-1 defeat against Brighton on Sunday and he is keen to seal a move away before the transfer window closes.

– Interest from Everton has cooled after they completed the loan signing of Conor Coady from Wolves but Sevilla, Monaco and West Ham United are all monitoring the 28-year-old Ivory Coast international.

– Bailly, Phil Jones and Axel Tuanzebe have all been told they are free to find other clubs before the end of the transfer window.