Leeds United’s desire to bolster their attack in the last days of the transfer window saw them sign Wilfried Gnonto from FC Zürich.
Earlier this week, the Whites made firm efforts to secure Cody Gakpo’s services. Their sporting director, Victor Orta, made a trip to the Netherlands to hold talks with him and PSV Eindhoven.
Reports from the Dutch press stated that Leeds were ready to propose €43m to the Eredivisie side for the forward.
On Friday, the Netherlands international admitted he’d ruled out a move to Leeds and other clubs after Ornaje manager Louis van Gaal advised him not to leave PSV.
The work put in by Orta and the Whites to bring the 23-year-old to Elland Road has now been revealed by the Dutch club’s director, John de Jong.
“Leeds United’s director flew in and talked to Cody. We received and listened to Leeds, but in the end, no concrete offer was put on the table where we thought we should sell him now,” De Jong told PSV TV, as quoted by Voetbal International.
“I think everyone knows that a club has to make an outgoing transfer every year. That’s in the budget. So did we, but in the end, there was not such a good offer on the table that we really considered letting him go. It’s hard, it was hard for Cody too. We got together on Thursday morning to talk about it.”
PSV will be delighted to keep Gakpo, considering he has managed seven goals and six assists from nine matches this season.
