Cody Gakpo faces fresh competition for a place in Liverpool's starting XI following the signing of Victor Munoz from Osasuna.
Cody Gakpo scored twice for the Netherlands against Sweden at the World Cup
Cody Gakpo scored twice for the Netherlands against Sweden at the World Cup(Image: Photo by Omar Vega/Getty Images)
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Cody Gakpo was far from on his own after enduring a below-par season for Liverpool last term, but a challenge to his place in the first team is well and truly on.
The 27-year-old scored seven goals in 36 Premier League appearances and struggled to provide the levels required for a successful defence of the title won under Arne Slot in the previous campaign.
That disappointing season eventually cost Slot his job and a restructuring project under new boss Andoni Iraola is now underway. The Spanish coach has already captured exciting winger Victor Munoz from Osasuna in a £34.5m deal and has now turned his attention to RB Leipzig hotshot Yan Diomande, who is also a winger.
Should the Reds be successful in their pursuit of the Ivory Coast teenager, it may leave Dutch international Gakpo wondering what his future now looks like on Merseyside.
He did, however, give Andoni and Liverpool fans a reminder of his talents on Saturday when he scored twice in a 5-1 win for the Netherlands over Sweden in a World Cup Group F match, the second of which was a trademark cut in from the left flank and right-footed finish.
And former Oranje star Rafael van der Vaart believes that his compatriot should stick around for a new era at Anfield, albeit with a few tweaks to his game.
Speaking to AceOdds.com after the Netherlands' impressive victory over Sweden, he said: "For me, Cody Gakpo is the difference between the Netherlands making the final or semi-final or getting knocked out earlier. When he has a good day, he is our best weapon, but the other teams are not stupid, so they are trying to double up on him the whole time.
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"I would like him to make more deep runs without the ball and not only go inside when he is dribbling. He also needs to go outside sometimes. He is too predictable and against Japan, that was really not good to see. He never goes outside.
"I think he should be a key player for Liverpool. A while ago, he was a key player at Liverpool, and he was doing well, but he should be a key player.
"But on the other hand, it doesn't make sense for him to sit on the bench. He wants to play, and when he doesn't get the minutes you want, you will always consider moving on to another club, but personally I think he should stay and fight for his position next season."
Gakpo signed a new five-year contract with Liverpool on August 30, 2025 that runs in the summer of 2030. He joined the Reds from PSV Einhoven in January, 2023 and has made 180 appearances for the club in that time, scoring 50 goals.
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