MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 11:14:16| >> :60:1466:1466:

Leeds United to renew Cody Gakpo interest in January?

Leeds to renew Cody Gakpo interest in January?
© Reuters
Leeds United are reportedly planning to reignite their interest in PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo in January following a collapsed summer move.

Leeds United are reportedly planning to try again for PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo in the January transfer window.

The Netherlands international earned links with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal earlier this year after bursting onto the scene in his homeland with PSV.

However, reported interest from Arsenal did not materialise into anything serious as the Gunners instead swooped for Gabriel Jesus, Marquinhos and Fabio Vieira to boost their attacking line.

Meanwhile, Man United instead forked out £85m to secure a deal for Antony from PSV's Eredivisie rivals Ajax, which allowed other clubs the chance to enter the race for Gakpo on deadline day.

The 23-year-old was believed to have been courted by Leeds in the final knockings of the transfer window, and Southampton were reportedly waiting in the wings as well.

Cody Gakpo in action for PSV Eindhoven in February 2022© Reuters

The window ultimately shut with the attacker still on the books at the Philips Stadion, but according to Fabrizio Romano, Leeds will reignite their interest in the January market.

Romano adds that Gakpo has been earmarked as Jesse Marsch's top target for the mid-season window, but the Whites will have to fend off numerous other clubs to sign him.

PSV director John de Jong has confirmed that Leeds did hold talks over a move for Gakpo last month, but Leeds supposedly did not come up with a good enough offer following Whites chief Victor Orta's journey to Eindhoven.

"I think everyone knows that a club has to make an outgoing transfer every year. That's in the budget. So did we, but in the end, there was not such a good offer on the table that we really considered letting him go," De Jong told PSV TV, as quoted by Voetbal International.

"I think everyone knows that a club has to make an outgoing transfer every year. That's in the budget. So did we, but in the end, there was not such a good offer on the table that we really considered letting him go. It's hard, it was hard for Cody too. We got together on Thursday morning to talk about it."

Gakpo himself has admitted that he was expecting to sign for Man United on deadline day, and he did not like the feeling of being pressured into quickly trying to choose a new club.

Cody Gakpo celebrating a goal for PSV Eindhoven in October 2021.© Reuters

"Manchester United had reported at the beginning of the transfer window. We were waiting for that a bit. The signals became more and more positive and at a certain point I thought it might fall in that direction," Gakpo told PSV TV.

"That option faded a bit and completely last week. We worked the whole window towards it. Until last week I thought I would go to Manchester United.

"It was all last minute for me, because until last week I thought I was going to Manchester [United]. Then it was 'choose another club' and decide whether I wanted to go there. That is not nice for PSV and also not for me, because it felt rushed.

"In the last week it was looking at what was the right thing to do. I feel at home here, in my own city. Everyone knows how I feel here. But of course there are other things at play and I think you should have all the options. I did that too."

Gakpo - who is contracted to PSV until 2026 - has amassed 49 goals and 39 assists in 145 outings for Ruud van Nistelrooy's side across all competitions, including seven goals and six assists from 10 appearances so far this term.

Meanwhile, Leeds - who also saw a late move for Marseille's Bamba Dieng fall through the cracks - brought in Italian starlet Wilfried Gnonto from FC Zurich as an alternative to Gakpo.

ID:493916:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect6628:

Cody Gakpo future - Click here for more stories

Click here for more stories about Cody Gakpo

Click here for more stories about Manchester United

Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Netherlands' Cody Gakpo during the warm up before the match on June 11, 2022
Read Next:
Cody Gakpo admits he wanted Man United move
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!