Cody Gakpo was a Sliding Doors moment for Leeds United but his recent comments suggest Elland Road move was never happening
Every club seems to have a “Sliding Doors” moment and Leeds United were involved in one with Cody Gakpo just 18 months ago.
Gakpo revealed in an interview with The Times in October 2022 that he came extremely close to joining Manchester United before the deal fell through and presented him with possible moves to Elland Road or Southampton.
However, Gakpo stated that “God” told him what to do, leading to the player deciding to stay at Eredivisie side PSV until the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to Voetbalzone (5 December).
“As a person of faith, I have sought my answers from God,” he said. “I got a very clear message that it was better to stay and that’s a good thing.”
Gakpo went on to shine for PSV in the first half of that campaign before scoring three goals in five appearances for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
It was form that convinced Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp to take him to Anfield in January 2023, by then Leeds were embroiled in a relegation battle and any hope they had of signing him became fanciful.
At just 24 years old, Gakpo is a hugely exciting talent. Liverpool have picked up an excellent prospect, who is still finding his feet in England, and Leeds missed out. It is as simple as that.
After a close shave during the 2021/22 season, missing relegation back to the Championship by three points, an exile from the Premier League looked to be on the cards if they were not able to acquire players intelligently.
And that is exactly what happened. Other than Rodrigo, who netted 13 league goals, the Whites were missing an out-and-out striker to poach rather than the playmaker-turned-forward in the Spaniard upfront. Their second-highest scorers last season were Jack Harrison and Luis Sinisterra with five each.
Patrick Bamford was having another poor season in a Leeds shirt, with Joe Gelhardt shipped out to Sunderland on loan for the second half of the campaign.
There is no way to know how different the campaign could have been if Leeds managed to land Gakpo’s signature.
But, as Jurgen Klopp has discovered, he adds a whole new dimension to a team and would have probably done the same for Jesse Marsch. There may not have been a need to employ Gavi Garcia or Sam Allardyce.
Although there is no point in looking back to the past now, there is no doubt that Leeds should have done everything in their power to sign Gakpo ahead of the 2022/23 season.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites want to beat Burnley and Leicester City to sign an international ace from a Championship rival.