Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Virgil van Dijk and Jurgen Klopp played “crucial” roles in ensuring Cody Gakpo completed his move to Liverpool.
The 23-year-old was officially announced as a Reds player yesterday after signing from PSV in a deal worth an initial £37m.
The Old Trafford outfit were also believed to be interested in his signing, but his Dutch teammate and former Borussia Dortmund boss worked their magic in what was a “quick and unexpected deal” according to the Italian transfer specialist.
“As Gakpo also confirmed, it was really fast and unexpected,” Romano told CaughtOffside. “Jurgen Klopp in a meeting with the club asked to bring in a new winger after Luis Díaz’s injury and Gakpo was the perfect target due to price, quality and ability to play with the team.
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“Klopp and Van Dijk were crucial for this signing. I think he will play as a winger, but he can be useful in many positions.”
Liverpool are quite well supplied in the attacking department and Gakpo will only add to that quality at the top end of the pitch.
Luis Díaz and Diogo Jota, who have been deployed on the left wing at times during their time at Anfield, remain out through injury and it is vital that Klopp has strength in depth if we are to remain as competitive as possible on all fronts.
A new midfielder is still needed, but the signing of the Dutch international who scored three World Cup goals in Qatar is certainly exciting.
For PSV this term, the Reds’ new No. 18 has 13 goals and 17 assists in just 24 games (in all competitions), let’s hope he can continue his fine form as the FA Cup holders look to have a good second half for the Campaign.
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