Leeds United: Pundit raves about Cody Gakpo as Fabrizio Romano drops June update on PSV forward
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson has reservations about whether Leeds United can afford to take a risk on signing PSV forward Cody Gakpo this summer.
Gakpo, 23, has been strongly linked with a move to Elland Road in recent weeks with Fabrizio Romano telling Que Golazo on 29 June that the Whites would love to sign the Netherlands international.
Although he had a stunning season with PSV last time out, Robinson is aware that Gakpo has never played in the Premier League and while he rates the attacker, he feels that Leeds need to do whatever they can to hit the ground running when the new season kicks off.
“Gakpo’s a top player but he’s untried and untested in the Premier League,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“It’s different when you’re higher up the league and have a bigger squad because you can bring players in and give them time to settle.
“Leeds don’t have a huge squad and they haven’t got the time to allow players to settle.
“Leeds have good fixtures to start the season so if they don’t get off to a decent start, they’re facing an uphill battle for the rest of the season to avoid relegation.
“It’s vitally important from the start but I do think Gakpo is a top player.
“I think he would adapt to the Premier League and I think he would fit in well.
“But it’s a player that not many people hear about unless they follow the Eredivisie.”
Leeds are clearly in the market for new forward with Raphinha widely reported to be on his way out of Elland Road.
Raphinha, 25, has seen his stock rise dramatically since joining the Whites from Rennes in 2020.
Gakpo scored 21 goals and supplied 15 assists in 46 appearances across all competitions for PSV last season, scoring the match-winning goal in the Dutch Cup final in the process.
In other Leeds United news, a loan-to-buy deal has been mooted by Phil Hay for the Whites to seal the signing of an international star.