Man Utd legend sends warning to ex-club as ‘not only Prem teams’ want ‘exceptional’ PSV star

PSV manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has warned Man Utd that “not only Premier League clubs are after” the in-form Dutch winger Cody Gakpo.

Interest in Gakpo has been growing in recent weeks. He could have easily ended up in the Premier League by now as clubs were keen on him in the summer.

Leeds United and Southampton targeted him late in the window and Man Utd also had him on their shortlist.

A move for Gakpo was considered if they were unable to sign Antony from Ajax. United ended up going all in to sign the latter as the deal for him could end up being worth around £85m.

Gakpo has taken this disappointment in his stride though as he has enjoyed a sensational start to the 2022/23 campaign.

The Netherlands international already has 13 goals and 11 assists in just 19 outings this term across all competitions.

It is understood that Man Utd are still considering a move for Gakpo. Fabrizio Romano has suggested that the Red Devils are ‘still following Gakpo’.

“Manchester United have excellent relationships with Cody Gakpo’s agent,” Romano wrote for Caught Offside.

“A deal was never really close to being completed during the summer as United decided to go big on signing Antony.

“However, United are still following Gakpo but will face competition from other clubs in England as well as Spain.

“The race is absolutely open as it stands.”

United will likely have to battle for his signature if they are going to sign him, though. Earlier this month it was revealed that Real Madrid are also keen to sign him.

Van Nistelrooy was announced as PSV’s new permanent manager in the summer. He has won 12 of his first 18 games in charge.

“It’s not only Premier League clubs after him,” Van Nistelrooy said about Gakpo during a press conference.

“Of course, with the quality he is showing the form he is having over the last three or four months; it’s been exceptional.

“His stats, his assists and goals that he’s been involved in, of course draw the attention of the best clubs in European football.

“The good thing about him, his age, he is only 23 years old, he is fully focusing on his career, becoming a better player, captaining PSV, giving the club the best he can.

“He is focusing on having a great World Cup, where he is also playing games for the [Netherlands] national team under [Louis] van Gaal.

“For him, he is in a fantastic moment and he wants to continue that. When the time comes he will make decisions.”

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