Manchester United were one of the clubs heavily linked with a move for former PSV winger Cody Gakpo over the last six months but the Dutchman has now joined Liverpool.
Quite surprisingly, Gakpo’s move to Liverpool developed quickly and caught many United supporters off guard after months of links to the Old Trafford club.
Gakpo will officially join Liverpool at the turn of the year but he’s in attendance tonight to watch his new team face Leicester at Anfield.
Speaking ahead of the game, United hero Gary Neville was quizzed on the transfer and admitted that he did not believe Gakpo was a player United needed.
"I actually didn't think he [Gakpo] was something Utd needed" 🔴
Gary Neville says he wasn't disappointed when Cody Gakpo signed for rivals Liverpool instead of Man Utd 👀 pic.twitter.com/rrYsC2SmMd
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 30, 2022
“I watched him in the World Cup two or three times live and I actually didn’t think he was something United did need,” Gakpo told Sky Sports, as seen above.
“I know a lot of Manchester United fans have been disappointed but with Rashford and Garnacho on the left and Sancho and Antony [on the right], I think he’s that type.
“Jurgen Klopp said himself he thinks his best position is off the left-hand side, you could put Martial into that as well, so from that point of view, I know there’s a rivalry, but I think Liverpool do obviously need him because of the injury problems that they’ve got.
“I wasn’t as disappointed as a United fan that they didn’t get him having watched him in the World Cup because I thought he was very similar to the players they have.”
We’ll never know for sure if Gakpo was a serious option for United in this transfer window but it’s fair to assume that a move to Liverpool would not have been as straightforward if the Reds were also pursuing it.
