Manchester United have been linked with a move for Cody Gakpo this summer but have now cooled their interest in the 23-year-old Dutch international.
Manchester United have been interested in signing Cody Gakpo, but it seems that they have now cooled their interest in the talented young winger according to The Athletic.
The Red Devils are looking to strengthen their attacking department before the summer transfer window closes, and Gakpo was believed to be on their shortlist this summer. The 23-year-old scored 21 goals and picked up 15 assists across all competitions last season, and he is widely regarded as a future star.
However, Manchester United are now prioritising a deal for Antony instead and have therefore decided to take a step back in their pursuit of the Dutch attacker.
Gakpo is a naturally left-sided winger, but he is versatile enough to operate on either flank and lead the line as well. Manchester United could definitely use someone like him in their ranks this season, even though he was largely viewed an alternative to Antony.
Manchester United were overly reliant on Cristiano Ronaldo for goals last season. And although the likes of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho have shown signs of improvement this year, Erik ten Hag must look to add more depth and quality to his front line.
Brazilian winger Antony could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for the Old Trafford outfit, but the Red Devils recently had an offer of around €80 million turned down for the South American winger. The player is thought to be keen on a move to Manchester United this summer, with the Premier League club submitting an improved offer this week.
It will be interesting to see if Manchester United can convince Ajax to part with Antony before the transfer window closes. Signing a top-class attacker could be the difference between UEFA Champions League qualification and playing in the Europa League again.
Both Antony and Gakpo are highly rated in the Eredivisie. But with Antony closing in on joining Manchester United, it makes sense that them have decided to cool interest in Gakpo. Furthermore, both players are likely to cost a lot of money, and Manchester United are unlikely to be able to afford both in the same window.