It was very close – £37m premier league star confirms Man United and Erik Ten Hag wanted to sign him

Cody Gakpo, a Liverpool forward, stated that he communicated with Manchester United and had a discussion with manager Erik ten Hag before joining Anfield.

United identified the Netherlands international as a key target in the summer of 2022, and he was consistently rumored to be moving to Old Trafford.

The Red Devils decided to sign Antony from Ajax for £82 million upfront to strengthen their assault before the summer transfer deadline.

United were expected to pursue Gakpo in January 2023 to address their need for a striker, but Liverpool secured his services with a prearranged contract in December.

Gakpo, who was acquired for an initial fee of £37 million, has disclosed that Manchester United did express interest in him. There were communications between the player, the club, and Ten Hag.

He informed Sky Sports that he had been in communication with Manchester United the summer before joining Liverpool.

I also spoke with their manager, Ten Hag, who is Dutch.

However, ultimately, it was unsuccessful, and that’s the conclusion. During the winter, Liverpool arrived… greatest choice for me.”

United should have recruited Gakpo over Antony.
Gakpo has not performed exceptionally for Liverpool since transferring from PSV Eindhoven, although he has outperformed Antony in terms of goal contributions.

The Dutch player has scored 18 goals and provided eight assists in 63 matches for the team at Liverpool. He has maintained an average of almost 61 minutes per game for the team.

Antony has nine goals and four assists, despite playing 71 games for United, which is eight more than the other player. He has averaged almost 64 minutes per game.

Gakpo had twice as many goal involvements as Antony and cost £45m less.

Gakpo has demonstrated a high level of adaptability. He has played in many positions, including left wing, right wing, and central midfield, in addition to his role as a forward.

Gakpo has proven to be a satisfactory acquisition for Liverpool, whereas Antony has faced difficulties in the Premier League in the last year.