Cody Gakpo made his debut for Liverpool last Saturday (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Former PSV manager Aad de Mos has suggested that Cody Gakpo’s much-hyped transfer to Liverpool may have been a mistake.
Gakpo officially moved from PSV to Anfield on New Year’s Day for a fee of £37million, having recently starred at the World Cup and been linked with Manchester United for some time.
However, his debut for the Reds could have gone a lot better, with the 23-year-old struggling to really get going as Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Wolves in the FA Cup third-round on Saturday.
Of course, it is impossible to judge a new signing after just one game, but there have been questions raised over why Jurgen Klopp decided to sign the left-winger given that Liverpool already have great depth in their forward line.
It has been a difficult season for the Reds so far, who are languishing in sixth place in the Premier League, seven points off the top four.
There has also been turmoil off the pitch with the club being put up for sale and the futures of several players and manager Klopp up in the air.
It is for these reasons that De Mos, who managed PSV from 1993 to 1995, is concerned that the transfer may have been a mistake for Gakpo, or at least the timing of it is.
‘He arrives at a time when the team is disappointing a bit,’ the former Ajax, Anderlecht and Werder Bremen boss told Soccernews.nl.
‘The spirit is completely gone and they are not among the best teams at the moment just like Chelsea.
‘Liverpool are trying to get back on track at the moment and it’s not a time for young players coming in, so I don’t know if the time is right to go to Liverpool now.
Gakpo scored three times for the Netherlands at the World Cup (Photo by Richard Sellers/Getty Images)
‘Also, maybe Jurgen Klopp is leaving soon. But Liverpool got him quite cheap because PSV is in a need right now to stay out of red numbers.’
Gakpo was highly sought after last summer thanks to his form in the Eredivisie, and while a move to United fell through he kept up his good work, scoring 13 and assisting 17 goals in 24 games in the first-half of this season.
He was also the Netherlands’ star player at Qatar 2022, scoring three goals as his country went out to eventual winners Argentina at the quarter-final stage.
His next chance to impress for Liverpool will be on Saturday when they travel to high-flying Brighton.
MORE : Tottenham join Chelsea and Newcastle in race to sign wantaway Brighton star Leandro Trossard
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
‘He arrives at a time when the team is disappointing a bit.’
