Everton are among three Premier League clubs in the race to sign PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
The Lowdown: Great 2021/22 season
The 23-year-old enjoyed a fantastic run both domestically and in Europe last season after making 47 appearances in all competitions. In 27 Eredivisie games, the left winger bagged 12 goals and 13 assists, raising his overall total in the Dutch top flight to 30 goals and 30 assists in 95 matches.
Featuring in Champions League qualifiers, the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, Gakpo also netted an impressive seven goals in 15 appearances in continental competition.
As a result, heavy transfer interest emerged this summer linking the attacker with a move away from the Netherlands.
The Latest: Ornstein’s update
According to Ornstein’s latest report for The Athletic, Everton are one of three Premier League sides in the race to secure Gakpo’s signature.
The Toffees join Leeds United and Southampton in recently pursuing the PSV star, with Manchester United having cooled their interest after agreeing a deal with Ajax for Antony.
Southampton are said to have made the most concrete approach so far, having had an offer rejected by the Eindhoven outfit.
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The Verdict: Incredible prospect
As per WhoScored metrics, Gakpo was PSV’s best player last season, having earned an astounding 7.79 league rating.
Even more impressively, the 23-year-old currently tops this season’s rankings, so far averaging an emphatic 8.61 match rating in the Eredivisie, the highest of any player in the entire division.
Dubbed a ‘constantly threatening’ winger by De Telegraaf journalist Valentijn Driessen, it is easy to see why Gakpo is receiving Premier League interest, given his electric pace and clinical nature in the final third.
Former Netherlands midfielder Theo Janssen has even claimed that the forward ‘has everything’ attribute-wise, so a move to Goodison Park this week would be an incredible bit of business for Everton.
Just imagine him teaming up with recent signing Neal Maupay and, once he returns from injury, the prolific Dominic Calvert-Lewin...