As per a report in the Dutch outlet PSV Fans, Premier League sides Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool are all interested in signing PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.
All these three sides are actively keeping tabs on the 22-year-old and the update is also suggesting that it’s actually the Gunners who are leading the race to sign him in the summer.
Arsenal linked with 🇳🇱 PSV striker Cody Gakpo who has been described as the Dutch Thierry Henry! He can play out wide and as a centre forward – exactly what Arsenal need! @Arsenal @PSV pic.twitter.com/2STcXE60fM
— Mogs (@MogsMorgan277) April 27, 2022
Who is Cody Gakpo?
Cody Gakpo has come up through the ranks at PSV Eindhoven and since 2018, he’s made 131 appearances for the senior side, scoring 39 goals.
Primarily, he is a left-winger but has to ability to play anywhere across the forward line. At times, he can play as the second striker as well as a no 10.
He’s played 1554 minutes in the Eredivisie this season and has provided 13 assists and nine goals. According to Whoscored, the only potential weakness he has is his defensive contribution but apart from that, he’s a top-class attacking talent.
Are Arsenal really ahead of Man City or Liverpool?
Man City and Liverpool are keeping tabs on Cody Gakpo but both of them are seeing the winger as a backup option.
Arsenal are the only side who can offer consistent game time to the youngster next season and moreover, we are not sure if Man City or Liverpool are even going to make a move for him in the summer.
City will only go after him if Gabriel Jesus moves out whereas Liverpool are looking at Cody as a backup to Mo Salah, should the Egyptian refuse to sign a new deal.
Even if Arsenal fail to secure a Champions League spot, they will still be above Man City and Liverpool in this particular transfer race. The North London are going to sell Nicolas Pepe at the end of this season meaning the club won’t have to pay out of their pockets to sign the 33 million pound winger.
Is Cody Gakpo worth the risk for Arsenal or the other two sides?
Cody Gakpo is just 22-years-old but the biggest risk in this signing is the injury history of the player.
Since 2021, Cody Gakpo has missed 25 games for PSV in all competitions. During that time, he’s had two major ankle injuries which have kept him on the sidelines for a combined 101 days.
At just 22, Gakpo has picked up so many injuries so we think, Arsenal should be really careful before bringing him on board. He should not be a tricky signing but Mikel Arteta and Edu will first have to make sure that the Gunners do not sign a player who spends more time on the treatment table than on the pitch.
