Liverpool supporters were as shocked as many Manchester United fans to see that Cody Gakpo had agreed a deal to move to Merseyside but one man who may not be as delighted as his supporters – is Darwin Nunez.
The Uruguayan has impressed many of the Anfield faithful but been on the end of a considerable amount of ridicule from those further afield and many of these observers may assume that the signing of the Dutch international could spell the end of the former Benfica forward’s days in the starting line-up.
Surely aware of the deal that had been agreed with PSV, Jurgen Klopp seemed to send a very deliberate message to his big-money striker in his Boxing Day press conference (as relayed on the club’s official website) and the 55-year-old said: “He’s unstoppable when we keep the ball and pass it in the right moment, there’s no defender who can really catch up speed-wise.
“I know all the stories around and it’s all fine but we are completely calm, everything will be fine. He played an exceptional game and we won 3-1 and that’s all that counts.
“I haven’t been in the business since yesterday and I’ve had some strikers around. I know scoring at the beginning is really not important. There are so many other things that are much more important. You just have to stay calm.”
It does seem that once the 23-year-old adds more calm to his game, he will soon become a real goal threat but it appears that there’s no thought of giving him some time out of the limelight as of yet.
Given the current injury concerns with Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Bobby Firmino though, the German will likely use his summer signing alongside Mo Salah and the new attacker from the Eredivisie for the short-term future.
It’s then up to the players to prove who deserves the starting role for the Reds full-time, as they try to catch up with those at the top of the table.
“To the moon and back!” – What Virgil van Dijk has said about Cody Gakpo
PSV Eindhoven have confirmed the exit of star attacker Cody Gakpo to Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk‘s recent comments suggest the Reds are signing a gem.
No sooner had the dust settled after the 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day that huge transfer news emerged from nowhere.
In the space of roughly an hour, Liverpool went from being strongly linked with a move for Gakpo to a potential £40 million deal being confirmed by PSV.
The 23-year-old looks like a hugely exciting signing by the Reds, not only racking up 13 goals and 14 assists for PSV this season, but also scoring three times at the 2022 World Cup for the Netherlands.
Gakpo’s captain in Qatar was Van Dijk, and speaking during the tournament, the Liverpool legend waxed lyrical about his international teammate.
“Hopefully Cody can go to the moon and back,” said Van Dijk. “He is a very good player and a good boy too.
“What we see in training is what you see on the pitch. There is still so much potential and I hope he can carry on showing it for us. We are very happy with him.”
Whether or not Van Dijk knew about a potential move to Liverpool for Gakpo at that point remains to be seen, but it is encouraging to hear him give such rave reviews.
Also during the World Cup, Van Dijk threw shade at his colleague’s potential move to United, suggesting that he had a bigger “next step” in him.
Van Dijk was asked about the prospect of his team-mate joining either Real Madrid or Man United, repling: “Are Manchester United and Real Madrid on the same level at this moment? No disrespect, not at all.
“I think he definitely has a next step in him. I definitely feel like it could happen. Whether it happens in the winter or next year, time will tell.
“But he’s a great boy, works hard, is very talented and there’s definitely more in him.
“We are very pleased he’s doing so well and long may it continue.”
Speaking more recently though, literally moments before the news of a deal broke, Van Dijk surely did know of the move, telling reporters after the win at Villa that he hoped “we can welcome some new players at our football club” [in January] and that “quality is always welcome.”
It would be no surprise at all if Van Dijk has had a huge influence in Gakpo opting to join Liverpool over some of their rivals, having no doubt sold the idea of the Reds to him.
At 23, the PSV talisman has the potential to be the next attacking Anfield hero, capable of wreaking havoc both out wide and in central attacking areas.
With Luis Diaz out for the foreseeable future, that left-hand side was in need of reinforcements and Gakpo will hopefully plug that gap to perfection.
Source: caughtoffside.com
