Transfer Centre

Manchester United-linked Cody Gakpo reacts to Antony's imminent Old Trafford move

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 28 August 2022

Man United-linked Gakpo reacts to Antony's imminent Old Trafford move

PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo, who is being linked with Manchester United, suggests that his future will be decided "in the next days".

Cody Gakpo has suggested that his future will be decided "in the next days", with the attacker continuing to be linked with a move away from PSV Eindhoven.

The 23-year-old has been in impressive form for his Dutch club at the start of the 2022-23 campaign, scoring four times and registering six assists in eight appearances in all competitions.

Gakpo has struck three times in three Eredivisie matches, in addition to providing three assists, but he could not help PSV overcome Rangers to reach the group stage of the Champions League.

Manchester United have been strongly linked with the Netherlands international, while Arsenal are also believed to be admirers.

There have been claims that Gakpo could be on the move before the end of the transfer window, and the attacker has suggested that a decision on his future is imminent.

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

Man United are believed to be considering moving for the attacker late in the window even though they are on the verge of bringing Antony to the club from Ajax.

Gakpo said that Antony's imminent move to Old Trafford has "no influence" on his future, and he has not ruled out the possibility of staying at PSV this summer.

"Antony to Man Utd? Nice for him... but for me and my future, I think that has no influence. It's like a puzzle so in the next days I will see which puzzle fits best - for me, it'd be certainly not bad to stay at PSV. We'll see," Gakpo told ESPN.

Gakpo has scored 46 goals and registered 39 assists in 143 appearances for his Dutch club since debuting in 2018.

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

Dutch football expert Marcel van der Kraan recently backed Man United to win the race for Gakpo before the end of the summer transfer window.

"He is the kind of player Erik Ten Hag likes because he likes to play with wingers. For every Dutch player who goes to play in England, it takes time to adapt. With that in mind, I'm a bit concerned because Gakpo is outstanding in all the big Dutch big matches and in Europe," Van der Kraan told Sky Sports News.

"But playing in and out, I'm a bit concerned. I think eventually he will eventually be the top man at a big club and I could see him featuring for Manchester United but there are other top clubs in the bidding for wanting him.

"There are around five Premier League clubs after Gakpo. But if the choice is there, he will go to Manchester United."

Any move for a second attacker before the end of the transfer window is likely to depend on whether Cristiano Ronaldo leaves Old Trafford, with the 37-year-old still being strongly linked with an exit.