Sports

Cody Gakpo: Manchester United preparing move for £35m-rated PSV Eindhoven winger

Published

6 months ago

August 10, 2022

Titilope Ahide

Manchester United are preparing a move for £35m-rated PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.

United boss Erik ten Hag, who shares the same agency as Gakpo, is keen on signing the 23-year-old to boost his attack.

Lisandro Martinez and Tyrell Malacia have been signed in defence along with midfielder Christian Eriksen already this summer, but the Dutchman has been unable to strengthen his front line yet.

With Anthony Martial currently injured and concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo’s future, United are looking for more options up front.

They missed out on striker Benjamin Sesko, who will join RB Leipzig next summer, and recently withdrew their interest in Bologna’s Marko Arnautovic.

United have spent much of the window chasing their primary forward target Antony, but it had long emerged that Ajax plan to keep him and would expect just shy of £70m for that to change.

Gakpo, currently managed by former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, has emerged as a more long-term solution to the lack of quality options in the forward department.

The Netherlands international is a product of PSV’s academy and scored 21 goals in 47 games last season.

PSV’s stance has been if a club with strong financial resources come in, it is implausible to retain their star players.

Meanwhile, United have agreed a deal to sign Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot.

There is still work to do until the transfer is complete, with personal terms still needing to be negotiated with his agent and mother Veronique, but it is expected to go through.

ALSO READ 4 Famous female skit makers who are happily married

‘Gakpo a player Ten Hag knows’

Sky Sports News senior reporter Melissa Reddy on The Transfer Show:

“Manchester United are priming an offer for PSV winger Cody Gakpo.

“They have long said they have alternative attacking targets. It will surprise no one when I say this is a player Erik ten Hag knows, as I said it is the manager driving their recruitment process.

“Ruud van Nistelrooy being in the PSV dugout might help smooth matters. PSV have had a public stance that they would like to keep their key players, but ultimately they know if a club comes in with major financial resources, they wouldn’t be able to decline that.

“He’s versatile, can play as a focal point if needed. This is another player where you wonder why United didn’t try this earlier. He is represented by SEG, who also represent Ten Hag.

“We know that PSV with their Champions League qualifying campaign, don’t want to listen to any offers until they’re certain of their position in the tournament.

“Had this been done at the start of the window, it would have been a different story, that wouldn’t have been as critical.”

Erik ten Hag’s first Premier League game in charge of Manchester United ended in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford.

Supporters had come in the hope of seeing some progress under the new coach but it was old failings that proved the difference instead…

Up Next

Paris Saint-Germain join Chelsea in race for Wesley Fofana and Man City close in on left-back Sergio Gomez – Paper Talk

Don't Miss

Rangers 3-0 Union Saint-Gilloise (Agg: 3-2): Hosts turn around Champions League qualifier to book place in play-off round

Click to comment

Sports

Olise’s late strike gets Palace point against United

Published

3 weeks ago

January 18, 2023

Titilope Ahide

Michael Olise has helped Crystal Palace get a point against Manchester United in their 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park Stadium on Wednesday night.

The midfielder’s late strike in extra-time, 91′, levelled the game against United, who had controlled the lead since the 43rd minute of the first half after Bruno Fernandes’ fine finish put the Red Devils ahead just before the break.

A relentless Olise scored from a free kick with a left-footed shot to the top right corner. The equalising goal saw United’s dream of replacing defending EPL champions City in the second place on the league table, fade away, as they remain third with 39 points, having played a game more than City.

Crystal Palace remains in 12th place with 23 points.

copyrighyt @punchnewspaper

ALSO READ CarabaoCup: Liverpool Gets Tough Fourth-Round Draw

Sports

Atletico Madrid head coach speaks on leaving Atletico Madrid

Published

3 weeks ago

January 18, 2023

Titilope Ahide

Atletico Madrid head coach, Diego Simeone, has insisted that nobody has personally told him to leave the club.

Rumours have persisted that Simeone, 52, could be set to end this 11-year stay at Atletico Madrid at the end of the season.

However, the Argentine has now stated that no one at the club has asked him to quit the La Liga giants.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Atletico Madrid’s Copa del Rey tie with Levante on Wednesday night, Simeone said when asked about reports suggesting he would leave the club at the end of the season: “No one has personally asked me to leave.”

However, having already been eliminated from UEFA Champions League and sitting 13 points behind leaders Barcelona in the La Liga table, the Copa del Rey is Atletico Madrid’s last realistic opportunity for a trophy this season.

It has been a disappointing campaign for Simeone’s side, as they sit fourth in the league.

Simeone added, “The boys are enthusiastic to reverse this situation that we have experienced since the break and prior to the World Cup. It’s been a regular to a bad season. For me, there is growth after the break, hopefully, we will continue in that line.”

ALSO READ Monday Night Football hits and misses: Lisandro Martinez silences doubters as Trent Alexander-Arnold is exposed

Sports

EPL: Frank Lampard won’t run away – Shaun Wright-Phillips

Published

1 month ago

January 7, 2023

Titilope Ahide

Former Chelsea player, Shaun Wright-Phillips has backed his former teammate, Frank Lampard to stay at Goodison Park and turn things around.

Wright-Phillips said his former team-mate does not run away from challenges such as Everton is facing now but would face them squarely

Lampard is in danger of being sacked any moment from now after yet another defeat on Friday.

Everton crashed out of the FA Cup on Friday after they were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United at Old Trafford

Frank Lampard has now led Toffees to six defeats in their last seven matches and they have also crashed out of the Carabao Cup and are currently 18th in the Premier League.

“Frank Lampard has always been a player and a person that won’t run away from things not going well,” Wright-Phillips told the BBC.

“He is the type of person to try and solve it or try and make the situation a lot better…”