As reported by Football London, Arsenal is ready to hijack Manchester United’s attempt to land Cody Gakpo this January.
Several Premier League teams, notably United, Southampton, and Leeds United, are interested in the Dutch winger who is playing admirably for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league.
Gakpo is a target for other European clubs as well, namely Real Madrid and AC Milan, so the Gunners will have tough competition if they want to sign him.
The north London team may try to sign the Dutchman in January and they could affect United’s plans for the striker. Earlier this week, the 23-year-old had revealed that he had discussions with Erik ten Hag regarding a move to Old Trafford last summer. However, the plan fell through before the summer window closed. Ten Hag will aim to sign a new forward in 2023 despite having resolved his differences with Cristiano Ronaldo. Gakpo can play everywhere along the frontline, and this could prove to be a valuable asset for the Red Devils.
Meanwhile, for Arsenal, Gakpo’s presence would help prevent Saka and Martinelli’s burnout and prevent injuries. Losing one of the attackers in the second half of the season might significantly hurt Arsenal’s prospects of winning the league.
But from the players’ viewpoints, signing for the Gunners would probably reduce his playing time and could affect Gakpo’s chances of featuring regularly in the starting XI.
After a stellar start to the 2022–23 season, the Gunners sit atop the Premier League standings with nine victories from their first 11 games. Meanwhile, Manchester United are placed in sixth place with 20 points to their name.
