A former Dutch international is convinced that a switch to Tottenham Hotspur could help a Liverpool forward rediscover his best form.
The north London club are eager to acquire Cody Gakpo from Anfield during the current transfer period.
Dutch football great Ruud Gullit suggests the 27-year-old would return to his peak performance levels if Tottenham manages to lure him away from the Merseyside club.
Gakpo features among the forwards on Roberto De Zerbi’s summer shopping list, alongside Manchester City players Savinho and Omar Marmoush among others. The Dutchman delivered an impressive World Cup showing for the Netherlands, despite their early elimination, netting seven times and supplying five assists across the tournament and qualifying fixtures combined.
Securing Gakpo’s signature would require a substantial financial outlay from Spurs, and Andoni Iraola would additionally need to find a replacement, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola among the options being considered.
Gakpo found himself rotating in and out of Liverpool’s starting eleven during the previous campaign, typically coming on as a substitute in European competition but earning more regular starts in Premier League matches during the latter stages of the season. He finished the term with nine goals and six assists for the Reds.
Gullit, the Dutch icon, argues that joining a manager who would offer support and reassurance to the forward while removing the pressure of being dropped after every error would allow Gakpo to become the player who contributed 18 goals and seven assists during Liverpool’s championship-winning season.
Gullit stated that Gakpo’s primary problem has been irregular playing time, dropped one week and reinstated the next, while maintaining he still holds the player in high regard and noted his excellence throughout the title-winning season. He explained that Gakpo requires a manager who demonstrates total trust and permits him the latitude to err without swift punishment, and when operating with self-assurance, he has demonstrated his significance to Liverpool.