Price tag emerges with Liverpool named as leading suitors for crack Dutch star amid growing Salah fears
Liverpool are reportedly positioning themselves at the front of the queue to sign Cody Gakpo as they contemplate possible life after Mohaned Salah.
The Egyptian star is at something of a career crossroads as he faces up to a crucial decision this summer. His contract at Anfield is due to expire in summer 2023 and talks over a new deal are yet to result in a positive outcome. As such, a parting of ways may even be on the cards this summer.
Salah and his agent Ramy Abbas Issa have, so far, rebuffed Liverpool attempts to tie the Egyptian down. At 29 years of age, this will likely be the last big contract of his career and he is looking to maximise his pay-day.
Liverpool are, of course, doing all they can to keep their talismanic forward at Anfield. Having scored a whopping 153 goals in 259 appearances for the Reds, his value to their cause is plain to see.
However, club owners FSG do have a pay limit which they are not prepared to break. And while they do plan to offer Salah terms that will make him their highest-paid player of all time, talk of a £400,000 a week deal appear beyond their means.
As such, if no agreement is reached this summer, Liverpool may well listen to offers for their star man. Simply allowing a £100m-valued asset to wind his contract down is not an option for FSG.
That is a scenario that Ally McCoist can see playing out as he told TEAMtalk in an exclusive interview.
And while Salah’s exit would hit Liverpool hard, no player can ever be considered bigger than the club. For that reason alone, life at Liverpool FC will simply go on.
PSV star seen as potential Salah replacement
In order to smooth over his possible exit, Liverpool are reportedly – and somewhat wisely – casting their eye over potential replacements.
The club has already brought in Luis Diaz; the Colombian hitting the ground running and looking like a useful addition to their attack.
However, reports in the Netherlands claim Liverpool are also keen to sign crack PSV Eindhoven winger Gakpo.
The 22-year-old winger is enjoying an excellent season in the Eredivisie. He has 14 goals and 17 assists to his name this season from 40 appearances. That translates at a goal involvement every 65.5 minutes – a hugely-impressive record.
Those performances have, understandably, see Gakpo placed on the radars of a number of Premier League suitors.
Indeed, Arsenal are reportedly among his admirers, while Thursday’s Paper Talk claims Erik Ten Hag wants the winger at Manchester United this summer.
Cody Gakpo will leave for a record fee
However, Dutch journalist Marco Timmer claims it is Liverpool who are most actively pursuing his transfer.
Speaking to Voetbal International, he claims the Reds have already held talks over the potential transfer.
“It is now a certainty that Cody Gakpo will leave PSV,” Timmer explains.
“The Eindhoven resident has already spoken to clubs such as Liverpool and Manchester City. Bayern Munich is also interested.”
Timmer goes on to explain that Arsenal are also very firmly in the mix.
He also claims PSV are seeking a minimum fee of around £34m for the winger.
“An intermediate step on his way to the absolute European top therefore seems to be his preference. At the moment, Arsenal are in pole position, but nothing is definitive.
“The London club will have to pay a record amount for Gakpo. PSV is aiming for at least forty million euros (£34m).”
Gakpo tends to operate on the left wing, cutting inside with his right foot. His potential signing at Liverpool could see Diaz move across to the right as a long-term replacement for Salah.
The post Price tag emerges with Liverpool named as leading suitors for crack Dutch star amid growing Salah fears appeared first on TEAMtalk.