Nott’m Forest had been eyeing Cody Gakpo

Nottingham Forest were active, to say the least, in the summer transfer window, so it does not come as a shock to discover that PSV Eindhoven and Netherlands star Cody Gakpo was on that list.

The Lowdown: Gakpo the goal machine

The 23-year-old is genuinely on fire this season, and his impressive haul of three World Cup goals for Louis Van Gaal’s Netherlands have well and truly put his name on the global footballing map.

Whilst this tournament in Qatar has been the cherry on top of his ever-growing reputation, his efforts in the Eredivisie paved the way. In 14 league games under Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV this term, Gakpo has almost equalled his record from of 12 goals and 13 assists from last season, having played 13 fewer matches at this point.

The PSV star appears to be having a breakout year amidst his growing reputation as a big-hitter in the final third of the pitch.

The Latest: Gakpo had been in line for Forest move

According to Nottingham Post, Gakpo was on Forest’s list of potential summer transfers.

The report states that, at one stage, the Reds were well placed to land the Dutchman, with a fee rising to around £35m quoted by the end of the summer.

That amount now looks to be a bargain, with Gakpo’s World Cup displays and stellar start to the club season paving way for a fee closer to around £50m, as mentioned in the report.

It is added that Arsenal is now the only ‘realistic destination’ for him, with Forest now likely to focus on bringing in a centre-forward and a ball-playing defender in January rather than a winger.

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The Verdict: Missed opportunity

With Gakpo’s stellar form broadcasting his name onto the world stage, it would seem that Forest have missed their chance to sign the rising star, with PSV playing a blinder by holding onto his services for another few months as his stock and his asking price grow all the time.

The Eredivisie outfit will now receive a much larger fee, with this revelation sure to rub salt into the wounds of the Garibaldi faithful.

A presence like Gakpo’s is much-needed at the City Ground, with Steve Cooper’s side the second-lowest scorers in the Premier League with just 11 goals scored to date.

For additional context, the “flying” Dutchman – as dubbed by Fabrizio Romano, has scored 13 goals on his own for PSV this season in all competitions. The maths tell you all you need to know here.