Cody Gakpo has revealed that Chelsea were considering making a formal bid for his signature before he signed for Liverpool.
Since the summer transfer window, Gakpo had been linked with a transfer to the Premier League with a number of teams having shown an interest.
The Netherlands international, who was then at PSV Eindhoven, has previously spoken about a potential switch to Manchester United, while he has also acknowledged that Leeds United were an option ahead of 2022-23.
With United requiring a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo in January, it was widely assumed that Gakpo would make the switch to Old Trafford at the midway point of the campaign.
However, Liverpool caught everyone off guard by announcing a deal for the 23-year-old on Boxing Day, the transfer being formally completed on New Year's Day.
© Reuters
Despite being proactive in the transfer market since the much-publicised takeover at the end of May, Chelsea were rarely linked with a move for Gakpo.
Nevertheless, in an interview with the Daily Mail, the versatile attacker has indicated that contact had been made by the powers-that-be at Stamford Bridge.
Gakpo said: "When I heard about interest from Liverpool in the winter, I didn't think about anything else. There was also Chelsea maybe but I already had my mind made up.
"This is a good place for me to improve and develop and eventually show who I can be."
© Reuters
Gakpo has struggled to make an impact at Liverpool since his £37m switch, failing to contribute a goal or assist in six starts for the Merseyside giants.
One of his ineffective displays came versus Chelsea during a goalless draw in a game where the Blues handed a debut off the substitutes' bench to Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Having seemingly missed out on Gakpo, Chelsea pressed ahead with the additions of Joao Felix and David Datro Fofana for the centre of their forward line.
Felix netted his first goal for Chelsea versus West Ham United on Saturday afternoon, the Atletico Madrid loanee making just his second appearance due to a red card on his debut versus Fulham last month.
Darren Plant
