Man Utd 'expected to pursue move' for £50m World Cup star | OneFootball

Manchester United are expected to pursue a move for PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his squad at Old Trafford, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.

The forward has been on World Cup duty in Qatar this month for Louis van Gaal’s Oranje squad which reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.

Man Utd transfer news – Cody Gakpo

According to The Sun, PSV are set to demand £50m for the services of Gakpo in January, with the forward shining on both the domestic and world stage.

O’Rourke has recently told GiveMeSport that he doesn’t think the Red Devils will be put off by this price tag, with the club having targeted the player in the summer before enhancing his reputation at the World Cup.

The Netherlands star recently said in a press conference in Qatar (via The Daily Mirror) that “anything is possible” regarding his next move in his career, perhaps hinting that a move to Old Trafford could indeed be on the cards.

And O’Rourke expects Manchester United to make a move for Gakpo in the new year, with £50m being a reasonable price for his services.

What has O’Rourke said about Man Utd and Gakpo?

O’Rourke told GiveMeSport: “The key thing about Cody Gakpo is he’s young, I think he’s only going to get better and better.

So, I think £50m in the current market is not a bad price for a player like Gakpo, who can play in several positions up front.

Erik ten Hag is a big fan of him, so I would still expect Manchester United to pursue a move for him.”

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Would Gakpo be a good signing for Man Utd?

Having terminated the contract of Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo after his explosive interview with Piers Morgan, ten Hag will be on the lookout for another forward to add to his squad.

Gakpo could be the priority target to fill that gap, having scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists in 24 appearances at club level so far this campaign, according to Transfermarkt.

However, it is at the World Cup where the 23-year-old has been able to shine, with the forward bagging three goals in five appearances as van Gaal’s side reached the quarter-finals of the competition, before eventually being knocked out on penalties to Argentina.

An average WhoScored rating of 7.53 for his performances in Qatar ranks him as the Netherlands’ best-performing player at the tournament, something which will certainly have increased the Red Devils’ desire to get a deal for the forward over the line.

Whilst United’s interest in the player was substantial before he headed to the Middle East to compete on the world’s biggest stage, Gakpo’s performances at the top level will have no doubt convinced ten Hag further that he is the right man for the club.