Manchester United legend Ruud van Nistelrooy has provided a big boost for his former club ahead of the January transfer window.
Now the PSV Eindhoven manager, Van Nistelrooy has admitted Cody Gakpo – who’s been heavily linked with United – could be on the move next month.
He told Voetbal International: “If I have the choice, I prefer [Gakpo to leave in] the summer, but it can also be now. You just know there comes a time when you can’t say no.”
Marcel Brands, the Dutch club’s director of football, echoed Van Nistelrooy’s thoughts earlier this month, but insisted a “record transfer” would be required to snatch Gakpo away.
“You have to be realistic. If you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag attached to him, there may be 10 to 12 clubs in Europe that can afford him,” Brands said.
“Amounts have not been discussed, but if the right club comes that Cody would like to go. Those agreements were already made before I came. It must be a record transfer for PSV anyway. Then you know in which direction it should go.”
He added: “In the media it seems like all the clubs are lining up, but the reality is that we don’t know anything about interest or anything yet. It’s quiet. I’ve spoken to Cody, he’s going on vacation for 10 days. If something is at play, it is perhaps known to Cody or his management, but not to us yet.”
It means United, or any other suitor, would be required to pay more than the €45m Napoli paid for Hirving Lozano in the summer of 2019.
Erik ten Hag is very keen according to Mirror, who claim the United boss has been in touch with Gakpo to tell him that he would be ‘the perfect replacement’ for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gakpo wants assurances that he will have a prominent role at his next club, which United can offer, and the young forward is thought to be interested in working under Ten Hag, whom he was coached by at the PSV academy.
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