PSV Eindhoven director of football Marcel Brands has admitted Manchester United’s interest in Cody Gakpo disrupted the player’s start to this season.
Gakpo was targeted by several Premier League clubs this summer after an impressive season for the Dutch side last year in which he managed 21 goals and 15 assists in 47 games in all competitions.
Manchester United were believed to be one of the clubs interested, with manager Erik ten Hag focusing hard on the Eredivisie for new signings in the window.
No official bid from United was lodged, but the interest was certainly there, with them at one point eyeing up a double deal for Gakpo and Ajax’s Antony.
Only the latter ended up moving to Old Trafford, with Gakpo instead staying in the Netherlands for another season despite late efforts from other English clubs to sign him.
He’s since discussed Manchester United’s interest earlier in the window, admitting the move was a tempting one but nothing firm was ever proposed to him.
The failure to secure a move has not stopped the forward from shining, as he’s managed nine goals and six assists in 12 games so far, but Brands says it did affect his pre-season preparations.
“Cody had a difficult preparation with us because he spoke to Manchester United,” Voetbal Primeur report him saying.
“They only came in mid-August and didn’t pick up. I even think Cody would not have left at the end of the transfer period if the right amount had been offered.
“There was no offer that approached the lower limit of what we agreed with Cody.”
