Leeds United must make unrefusable bid for Cody Gakpo, more time granted
Leeds United may have been granted a lifeline in their pursuit of PSV Eindhoven top scorer Cody Gakpo and they have to take advantage of it.
The current Dutch Cup holders advance to the playoff stage of the Champions League on Tuesday with an extra-time win over Ligue 1 outfit AS Monaco and as a result, they have told the Dutch international he is not for sale until the tie with Rangers is complete, according to the Daily Record.
The transfer race for Gakpo is heating up with Leeds leading the way [Foot Mercato] but rivals Manchester United are also keen on the 23-year-old as are Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
The 2021-22 Dutch Footballer of the Year was told of PSV’s decision immediately after the late success over Monaco and he appears happy to stay in his homeland for now.
This news is exactly what Victor Orta and his team needed to regroup and formulate an offer that both he and the Eredivisie side can not resist to ensure they beat their Premier League counterparts to the punch.
It will take a big offer to get PSV to accept which is only half the problem with Gakpo keen to play European football but Jesse Marsch is more than capable of selling the project as he has done with seven new additions this summer.
Fellow Dutch ace Pascal Struijk could be called upon to be the peacemaker in negotiations and perhaps nudge his countryman towards Elland Road over anywhere else.
Marsch would love to add one more attacker to his armoury before the window closes on 1 September but if he wants it to be Gakpo, then it will take a well-thought-out approach and quick decision-making from both camps.
In other Leeds United news, there is no financial pressure on the Whites to sell this promotion-winner despite his desire to leave the club if the chance arises.