PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo has named Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Barcelona as the clubs he could join next summer.
The 23-year-old forward has enjoyed a sensational campaign with the Dutch giants under Ruud van Nistelrooy, scoring 13 times and providing 17 assists in 23 appearances.
Erik ten Hag was interested in bringing the Dutchman to Old Trafford during the summer with United eventually shifting their attention to Antony, signing the winger from Ajax for £85million.
Gakpo revealed last month he was close to joining the Manchester club but with interest growing amid his superb run of form, there could be major competition for his signature at the end of the season.
The Netherlands international, part of Louis van Gaal’s squad heading to Qatar, believes he will be ready to take the ‘next step’ in his career at the end of the season, naming the five clubs he hopes to join.
‘I think at the end of this season I will be ready to take that step,’ Gakpo told NOS. ‘I feel like I was already at the beginning of this season, but after this season I’m even more ready to take the next one.’
Asked about his ‘dream club’, he added: ‘PSV was always my dream club. I don’t really have one for the rest.
‘Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. It would be an honour to play there, but I also have to see what kind of team I can best achieve my goals.’
Gakpo, who was also on Arsenal’s radar earlier this season, turned down a potential move to Southampton late on in the summer transfer window after discussing a move to United with ten Hag himself.
‘I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United,’ Gakpo told The Times.
‘In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame, for me and my development, and because Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world.
‘But also for PSV, because to transfer a player to Manchester United is a good thing for the club.
‘It ended about a week before the end of the transfer window and in that week I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end I stayed, but it was a stressful period.’
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