Manchester United are reportedly keen on securing the services of Cody Gakpo as Ralf Rangnick eyes attacking reinforcements in the summer.
According to a report from Mirror, Manchester United are keeping close tabs on the progress of Cody Gakpo. Their scouts have been watching the 22-year-old PSV Eindhoven attacker for a while, and it appears a summer swoop could be on the cards.
A product of the PSV youth academy, Gakpo is regarded as one of the most promising young attackers in Europe. He has been a consistent performer in the Eredivisie over the past couple of years, and since the summer exit of Donyell Malen, the winger has taken his game to a whole new level.
In just 18 league games, the Dutch international has been involved in 19 goals, helping PSV keep up with Ajax in the race for the Eredivisie title. His tally of 34 goals and 31 assists in 121 competitive outings is also quite impressive, with the youngster notably being rewarded with his first cap for the Netherlands national team last summer.
Gakpo’s rapid rise to prominence has not gone unnoticed, with a host of Premier League clubs interested in his services. Arsenal, for one, are eyeing a summer swoop for the Dutch international, with Mikel Arteta reportedly keen on attacking reinforcements.
However, the Gunners are now set to face stiff competition from Manchester United in the race to sign the explosive winger. As iterated earlier, Rangnick is keen on shoring up his options in the attack next season amid uncertainties over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international has drawn in a lot of criticism in recent weeks for his lack of impact, and it won’t be surprising to see him depart Old Trafford in the summer.
Along with Ronaldo, Manchester United are also set to part ways with Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard, whereas Mason Greenwood remains suspended. It should create a massive void in the club’s attacking unit, and that is where someone like Cody Gakpo should prove to be a useful addition to the team.
Although a left-winger by trade, Gakpo is able to play on all three fronts of the attack, which should offer some much-needed versatility in the final third for the new coach. At the age of just 22, Gakpo also has a bright future ahead of him and can be a smart long-term investment, even though Manchester United are actively scouting other options as well, including Inter Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu.