Reality has Cody Gakpo at crossed roads as he chooses his next club

Every team needs a Cody Gakpo but to take his game to the next level and earn deserved recognition, it will be very difficult for the best suited teams to come for him now, unfortunately.

The PSV Eindhoven forward as has been in astonishing form in the last couple of seasons but it is this season that he has really catch the eye and has received more mentions for his attacking prowess.

International recognition has also helped raising his stock having been handed his first cap for the Netherlands by former manager, Frank De Boer in the UEFA European Championship in 2021.

Already 30 goal contributions for PSV Eindhoven across all competitions this season while also on a run of five consecutive games in which he has contributed goals for his country, elite clubs are alerted of his potentials and will all be looking to make him theirs starting this January.

The situation is however complicated for the 23year old, given most of the best suited and elite clubs, who could have been his best destinations are already in a spot they won't want to bring him in, or the player shouldn't even consider moving there if he wants the best for his career.

Real Madrid for instance is a dream move for any player but Los Blancos have what they currently have in the likes of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo Goes, Fede Valverde and Karim Benzema, not mentioning Marco Asensio, who is already anticipating a move away due to lack of play time.

Carlo Ancelotti personally won't want to break the circle of his rotation if everyone is available albeit Gakpo will be a great addition but he needs to be more than just a squad player.

Going to Madrid just because not everyone is fit is not bad, (like he would made great sense considering Benzema’s struggles with injuries), however, what happens when everyone’s fit ? Surely that is not an advisable move for the player, who has been lighting up the World Cup with his country.

Barcelona is another club that would suit him but due to financial constraints, the club can't sign anyone in January as confirmed by Joan Laporta, and even they have enough wingers.

In the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Ansu Fati, the later who is already complaining of lack of play time can really upset things for Xavi, while Raphinha only joined in the last summer and hasn't really been playing at the level expected of him.

Chelsea are unsettled at the moment and a move to the Bridge might affect his progress.

New manager, Graham Potter is currently struggling to see what really works at the club and that is no favourable destination for a player like Gakpo, who needs a settled environnement.

Enter, Manchester United and we might be talking sense in the end. Coming in for Cristiano Ronaldo will be a good move if Erik Ten Hag can convince he will play vital role in his team.

Ten Hag had been a long term admirer of the forward and a union at Man United will be great.

However, the fact that United have like players in Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford might influence the decision to sign Gakpo. They might be better getting a traditional No.9, which they currently lack at the club.

Manchester City would have been one brilliant move too but the Ethiad Landlords recently made a £100m investment in that department following Jack Grealish's British record move in the summer of 2021.

Moreso, the hunger of Erling Haaland and a proven worthy deputy in Julia Alvarez is to be considered so there is literally no chance City would be interested in luring the 23 year old to the Premier League.

Enter Newcastle United and it's a win for every party involved, including the player's entourage.

PSV Eindhoven will get handsomely paid for his acquisition. Newcastle United get the right profile for their project and Cody Gakpo gets a new home, big wages, and of course play for an ambitious club ready to write history.

A move to Newcastle United for Gakpo will be a marquee signing for the club, and can be compared to the move Manchester City made for Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid back in the summer of 2011.

It could be even better given he is coming from PSV to an elite league and Newcastle are already very competitive. He could be that one signing that make them real title contender this season, given the prospects they've shown so far under Eddie Howe.

Not forgetting Arsenal, who have been linked with the player in the past. Gakpo would also be great matchups for Mikel Arteta in all ramifications, but financially, offers by rival clubs would easily upset any prospective interest from the Gunners.

Arsenal will surely be unwilling to enter into bidding war with the other top teams and considering personal terms offers, who would not suit their wage structure.

Presently, there's no real quality in depth up front where they literally have only the starting trio and nothing more and one can't help but think an injury to any of the trio of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli will be huge crisis for their chances this season.

Gakpo’s arrival in January will be massive given he can play across all attacking positions, which makes him a better option than Mykhaylo Mudryk, who is more heavily linked with a move to the Emirates.

It will make the selection less predictable for rivals managers without any dip in quality. Gakpo can easily start ahead of any of the three and in the pecking order, he will not come short of any.

Arsenal or Newcastle United have exciting projects and either move will be good for Cody Gakpo, who could already be anticipating a move the top leagues now.

The question is, would they move for him or not in January ? Newcastle United can easily match any price tag placed on the player by PSV but not the same can be said of Arsenal.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi