-
Jurgen Klopp hints at surprise revelation about Man United Cody Gakpo pursuit.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has characterized his team as having an ‘open door’ to sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, raising doubts about what rivals Manchester United were doing when they were regarded to be the most likely to secure a deal for the winger.
Gakpo will be legally registered as a Liverpool player when the January transfer window opens on Sunday thanks to a deal worth up to €50 million that has already been finalized and announced by both parties.
But his arrival at Anfield saw a bizarre turn of events unfold. The Reds had been loosely linked with Gakpo in the past, but the end of the summer saw Leeds and Southampton vying for his signature.
Gakpo revealed in September that he had anticipated moving to Manchester before the summer deadline, and United had also been following him at the time. However, he noted that interest in the club had seemed to fade shortly before the window closed.
RELATED:
- Cody Gakpo discloses Virgil van Dijk role in Liverpool transfer
- Enzo Fernandez agrees to join Chelsea
- Liverpool boss Klopp applauds the signing of Netherlands star Gakpo
But United resurrected their interest more recently, with Gakpo wanted by Erik ten Hag and favoured as a January target following the sudden departure of Cristiano Ronaldo in November.
Until journalists were briefed that Liverpool had all but wrapped up a deal for Gakpo, their interest had been kept extremely quiet in the public sphere – something which Klopp praised.
It’s a little surprise that Klopp acknowledged that Liverpool had a bit of an open goal considering how widely anticipated it was that Gakpo would move to United.
“Some of these nice moments you are manager of Liverpool, you think you have to convince someone and then you realise the door is wide open, so it’s more or less a home run,” he said.
Reports this week have suggested that current finances at Old Trafford amid a potential takeover have limited the club to pursuing loan deals in the January window. Compared to Liverpool’s willingness to buy Gakpo outright straightway, it appears to have cost them.