Leeds United have been handed a boost in their bid to bring Cody Gakpo to Elland Road in the January transfer window.
What’s the talk?
That’s according to a report by Football Insider, who claim that the PSV Eindhoven forward – who was heavily linked with a €43m (£38m) move to Leeds this summer, only for the deal to fall through on the final day of the transfer window – is looking to move away from his current agency, SEG, ahead of securing a potential switch away from the Netherlands in 2023.
The report goes on to state that this is seen by those with knowledge of the 23-year-old’s situation as a ‘huge’ boost to Victor Orta’s chances of sealing a deal for the Netherlands international – with the Spanish director of football reported to already be targeting a second approach for the winger in the January transfer window.
A boost for Orta
Considering just how impressive Gakpo has been for Eindhoven so far this season, it is not difficult to understand why Orta remains eager to make another move for the 23-year-old this winter – with Football Insider’s latest claim regarding the forward’s desire to change his representatives sure to come as great news to the Whites’ director of football.
Indeed, over his seven Eredivisie appearances in 2022/23, the £31.5m-rated talent has been in breathtaking form, having already scored eight goals. Incredibly, seven of his strikes this term have come in his last six appearances in all competitions alone.
He’s also registered six assists in the league and created eight big chances for his teammates, in addition to taking an average of 4.6 shots – 2.6 of which have hit the target – making 4.4 key passes and completing 1.3 dribbles per game.
These returns have seen the £7.4k-per-week attacker average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 8.99, not only ranking him as Ruud van Nistelrooy’s best performer in the league but also quite comfortably as the best player in the Dutch top flight as a whole so far this season.
The Dutchman has also caught the eye in Europe, having scored one goal, taken three shots – two of which hit the target – made three key passes and completed two dribbles in PSV’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Bodo/Glimt earlier this month, with these returns seeing the winger earn an extremely impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.5.
As such, it is clear to see that Gakpo – who is an “electric” talent in the words of Josh Bunting – would represent an exceptional addition to Jesse Marsch’s current attacking options at Elland Road in the January window, leading us to believe that the latest update regarding the PSV sensation’s future is sure to have delighted Orta and his transfer team in LS11.
