Cody Gakpo signed for Liverpool at the start of 2023 in a £40m deal from PSV - but not before a failed pursuit from Manchester United
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Former Manchester United coach Benni McCarthy has revealed how much Erik ten Hag wanted to sign Cody Gakpo before missing out to Liverpool at the start of 2023.
Netherlands international Gakpo had established himself as one of the rising stars of Dutch football during his time at PSV Eindhoven and was wanted by both the Reds and their fierce rivals United in late 2022.
Liverpool announced on Boxing Day 2022 that they had reached an agreement with PSV for the £40m addition of Gakpo and former Blackburn Rovers striker McCarthy, who was on the United coaching staff for two years before leaving last summer, has detailed how much the forward was wanted at Old Trafford at the time.
"Cody Gakpo was the one that we wanted the most and missed out on," McCarthy told betonlinepromocodes.com. "I think he was the first player that we sat down and discussed, and decided that he was the player who would fit in perfectly.
"We knew we could play him alongside Marcus Rashford, when Rashy was really on song in 2022. I think we were so close to getting him. At one stage, it was ours to lose. The agent knew Erik, and there were really good talks.
"The manager asked me to write up a profile for the player and to take it to the scouting department, so they knew my opinion. I watched the player, I made my case for why he would be ideal.
"He could play on the left, he could work as a false nine. With him and Rashford we’d have been strong down the middle and on the left.
"Then you had Alejandro Garnacho coming through, and we wanted to play him down the right. It would have been perfect.
"Then I was told the scouting department had watched him numerous times and they didn’t rate him. They said the stats weren’t right. For me, with my experience, I know what you need to deliver at a special club.
"You don’t need stats to tell you that. The naked eye gives you so much more than just stats. Obviously the club have a system, and the system won, so he joined Liverpool and won the league."
McCarthy added: "People can say what they like but we tried to bring in great players that would fit. I know the manager always takes the blame, but sometimes the club needs to look at itself. Good players escaped our grasp. Erik knew what we needed."
Gakpo has gone to represent Liverpool 128 times, scoring 41 times, including 10 in the Premier League last term as Arne Slot's men won the title.