PSV tried to sell star
PSV forward Cody Gakpo has revealed that he came extremely close to joining Manchester United in the summer transfer window, but the deal eventually broke down before he could complete a move to the Premier League. The Dutch sensation is currently valued at €35 million and has the second highest market value in the Eredivisie.
And with good reason too. So far this season the 23-year-old forward has bagged no less than 13 goals and 11 assists in 18 matches for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side. Not only is that comfortably the highest return in the Dutch top-flight this season, but it’s currently higher than Erling Haaland and Neymar’s returns for Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain, who sit on 23 and 21 goals and assists this season. As such, no player in European football currently has more goals and assists than Gakpo.
The most valuable players in the Dutch Eredivisie
Such stats will hardly offer much solace to Man Utd fans, who have now been informed that the player was on the verge of completing a move to Old Trafford in the summer before the deal fell through. “I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United,” said Gakpo in an interview with the Times. “In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame, for me and my development, and because Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but also for PSV, because to transfer a player to Manchester United is a good thing for the club.
Player Comparison
PSV Eindhoven
Manchester United
£31.50m
Market Value
£67.50m
Left Winger
Position
Right Winger
Jun 30, 2026
Contract until
Jun 30, 2027
Full Player Comparison
The player later confirmed that he had offers from other Premier League clubs and could have left PSV in the summer, but opted to stay put and continue his development at his boyhood club for at least another season. “It ended about a week before the end of the transfer window and in that week I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton,” said Gakpo. “In the end I stayed, but it was a stressful period.”
Most goal contributions in Europe’s top 7 leagues (all competitions)
PSV tried to sell Gakpo – technical director may now leave for blocking a move
Unfortunately, not everyone at PSV was apparently delighted with Gakpo’s decision to stay at the club. According to Dutch outlet VI, on the closing days of the transfer window the club’s board received an urgent request from the supervisory board to sell Gakpo, which made clear that the forward or team mate Ibrahim Sangaré would have to be moved on to balance the club’s budget.
However, at the time the club’s management team decided to turn down said offers for Gakpo and kept the player at the club. According to the Dutch outlet, this could now have serious consequences, with the club’s technical director, John de Jong, expected to depart the club in the coming weeks for not selling either star player when they had the opportunity in the summer window. Perhaps his predecessor will be more accommodating in the January window, when clubs once again enquire about Gakpo’s availability.
Homepage
