Liverpool have now had clear-the-air talks with Cody Gakpo after he missed out on a move to Manchester City this summer, according to a key update.
The 27-year-old’s future was a talking point throughout the summer transfer window, which slammed shut on Tuesday evening, as the Reds made no attacking signings on deadline day.
Despite strong rumours of a move to City, and Tottenham for that matter, Gakpo has stayed put, which may please Andoni Iraola, having praised him recently:
“I can say what I said last week, and even after the performance he had in the first game. He is playing very well for us, he has been very good since he came back from the World Cup and after the holidays, a good attitude and I hope we can keep him at that level because he has been very influential.”
According to Eindhovens Dagsblad [via Caught Offside], Gakpo has cleared the air with Liverpool after not getting his move to City, and will now “have to quickly get over the disappointment of a missed transfer.”
The talks were held with officials from FSG, with the Dutchman hopefully remaining happy at Anfield this season, despite not getting his summer wish.
Should Cody Gakpo start for Liverpool vs. Ipswich?
Next up for Liverpool is a trip to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Friday night, as Iraola looks to pick up his first win at the Reds’ new head coach.
The Spaniard will have to decide whether or not to start new big-money signing Bradley Barcola, and that will have a knock-on effect with Gakpo’s place in the team.
Barcola is a left winger, which may relegate Gakpo to being second-choice moving forward, but he can also do a job on the right, as he showed when he assisted Alexander Isak in the 2-2 draw at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend.
It also seems likely that the former Paris-Saint-Germain star may only be match fit enough for the substitutes’ bench, given his lack of minutes, which would then mean Gakpo almost certainly starting in his preferred left-sided berth at Portman Road.
