Manchester United need to let go of at least one player before they can finalise a move for PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo.
That’s according to Eindhovens Dagblad, via Voetbal Primeur, who say the Red Devils need a sale before pushing for the winger.
They explain that Gakpo has been ‘in the spotlight’ at Manchester United for some time but a lot has to happen before he can leave for England.
Financial Fair Play rules are currently the biggest obstacle, with United needing to get at least one player off the payroll before they can offer Gakpo a contract.
That is what ‘several English sources’ tell the newspaper.
The main candidate to leave is Cristiano Ronaldo, who wants to join a Champions League club before the end of the window.
His departure would free up a huge amount of wages in Manchester United’s budget.
Gakpo has been a transfer target for those in charge at Old Trafford for a while but is not an alternative to Ajax’s Antony, but rather a signing to be made alongside the Brazilian.
PSV Eindhoven are holding out for €50m for their man and ‘expect an official offer’ to arrive from England ‘soon.’
Gakpo had indicated he would be more willing to stay if they qualified for the Champions League but that is now off of the table following the defeat to Rangers last night.
That has sped up his and PSV’s need to get a deal done but that seemingly won’t be happening until Manchester United can make a sale.
The suggestion is that they don’t have the room in the wage budget but that makes little sense given the players they’ve removed from their books this summer and the huge sums that has saved them in wages.
Instead, this feels like an excuse in case a deal doesn’t happen, or at least a way for United to keep the Gakpo line open and save PSV getting frustrated by any lack of movement.
