Arsenal have reportedly joined Liverpool and Manchester City in chasing PSV Eindhoven Cody Gakpo as they seek a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
According to Foot Mercato, Arsenal have joined the race to sign Cody Gakpo as Mikel Arteta seeks a young replacement for wantaway striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gunners will face competition for the Dutch international, with Liverpool and Manchester City equally keen on signing him.
Cody Gakpo has come to the fore in the last 18 months to become a key part of the current PSV Eindhoven setup. His performances caught the attention of Louis van Gaal, who called him up to the senior Dutch side back in June. The left-sided forward has kept up his levels on the pitch, becoming a sensation this term.
Gakpo’s six goals and ten assists this season have caught the attention of Premier League clubs, who have noted his presence in the attacking third. Gakpo has flourished since the departure of Donyell Malan last summer to Borussia Dortmund, subsequently becoming a key player for PSV.
Liverpool and Manchester City have been keeping tabs on his progress at the Dutch club, with the Premier League giants holding exploratory talks with him. The Reds, in particular, hpld a substantial interest as Jurgen Klopp has continued his search for young options to refresh his front three.
Manchester City have been keeping an eye on various forwards in the market. Pep Guardiola wants to bring a long-term replacement for Ferran Torres, who joined Barcelona earlier this month.
Manchester City have since reached an agreement to sign Argentine youngster Julian Alvarez from River Plate, which may prompt them to call off the search for an attacking reinforcement. Hence they might bow out of the race for Gakpo, leaving the likes of Liverpool and latest entrant Arsenal with a clear path to sign the young forward.
Arsenal have joined the chase as Mikel Arteta looks for a new forward to bolster his options. Since failing in the long-drawn pursuit of top target Dusan Vlahovic, the Gunners have been chasing several alternatives.
Their main objective is to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a versatile forward. The former Arsenal captain could be set to depart the club before the end of this month. Gakpo’s profile certainly suits perfectly, although the Dutchman has played from the left-hand side for most of his career.
Gakpo could give Arteta a different dimension from his preferred left-hand side, although Arsenal are well covered with Gabriel Martinelli. They could look to use Martinelli in different positions depending on the team’s tactics, letting the Dutchman get a prominent role in future sides at the Emirates if signed.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal’s interest is serious in this window, as they are certainly looking for a quality forward. Gakpo is not the centre-forward Arteta wants but is certainly a player the Arsenal boss could develop in the coming years. But with Liverpool and Manchester City also in the hunt, the chase might not be straightforward.
