Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk reunite.
Gakpo, who burst onto the scene during the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup for the Netherlands as one of the tournament’s brightest young stars, has reportedly left Dutch side PSV to sign for English Premier League giants Liverpool .
Gakpo will now be reunited with Dutch team-mate van Dijk at club level in a move likely to delight the veteran Liverpool star. Van Dijk told the assembled media following the Netherlands’ 3-1 win over the United States in the World Cup round of 16 that he believed Gakpo deserved to play for a top club. He also recently told British media that he hoped his own club could sign some quality additions in the near future. Liverpool are currently without injured strikers Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, leaving a void that Gakpo will help fill in the immediate future.
Gakpo made waves during the 2022 World Cup group stage when he scored in all three Group A matches against Senegal, Ecuador and host nation Qatar. He did not score in the knockout phase, however, as orange lost to eventual champions Argentina in a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals after beating the USMNT in the Round of 16.
All Netherlands goals at FIFA World Cup 2022
Watch all the goals of Cody Gakpo, Wout Weghorst and the rest of the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Gakpo was expected to join an EPL club in recent days, but not Liverpool. Rumors in recent weeks had strongly linked Gakpo with Manchester United, whose manager, Dutchman Erik ten Haag, was a “big fan” of the 23-year-old following his performance in the European Cup. world
The transfer gives an extra boost to Liverpool, who beat Aston Villa 3-1 in a Boxing Day match earlier on Monday. Van Dijk and Liverpool’s top striker Mo Salah each contributed a goal, as did 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic. Aston Villa were playing without first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who remains away from the club just eight days after winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
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