Dutch journalist: Leeds United must smash PSV Eindhoven transfer record for Cody Gakpo
Leeds United must smash PSV Eindhoven’s £34.5million transfer record if they harbour any hopes of signing 23-year-old attacker Cody Gakpo, according Sporwereld journalist Rik Elfrink.
It had been reported by FootMercato journalist Sebastien Denis on 22 June that Leeds were in “hot pursuit” of the attacker who has 12 goals and 13 assists in the Eredivisie in the 2021/22 season.
However, Elfrink has reported that Leeds will need to pay well over the £34.5million that PSV received for Hirving Lozano from Napoli in 2019.
Writing in ED.NL on 28 June, Elfink said: “PSV want to keep Gakpo, but if that doesn’t work, there must be a smashing of the Eindhoven transfer record.
“That now stands at almost 40 million euros, an amount that Napoli paid for Hirving Lozano in 2019.”
It is understood that Leeds are also in talks with the Netherlands international despite PSV’s wishes to keep hold of him.
Elfink added on his Twitter account on Tuesday: “Cody Gakpo is in talks with Leeds United.”
Pay for quality
Gakpo would be a marquee signing that would certainly go a lot of the way to replacing Raphinha at Elland Road if and when the Brazilian leaves the club.
Leeds haven’t been scared to pay transfer fees in the early part of the window and there has to be an understanding that they have to pay a premium for young and exciting talent from the continent.
One problem for Leeds is that other clubs will be aware of the fee they could potentially recieve for Raphinha and then bump the price up on the player the Whites are targetting.
It is evidently clear that Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch are preparing for the Brazilian’s departure with Gakpo linked along with Club Brugge winger Charles De Ketelaere in recent weeks.
Although a move for Gakpo looks unlikely at present, Leeds United must not be underestimated when it comes to getting deals over the line quickly.
Orta and Marsch are quick to identify and secure their targets and if they did have a bid accepted for Gakpo it would not be a surprise to see a deal escalate rapidly.
In other Leeds news, club braced for £50m bid from PL side in blockbuster transfer move.