Newly appointed Liverpool manager Arne Slot has received a timely reminder of Cody Gakpo’s quality ahead of pre-season.
The Reds boss is expected to make significant changes to his squad this summer, with new arrivals expected in all areas of the pitch.
Acquiring the services of a forward is among the priorities on Merseyside, though Liverpool may rethink the type of attacker that they require after seeing Gakpo’s quality whilst he has been representing the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
Despite struggling on the whole since joining the Reds from PSV in a deal worth £37million in 2023, the forward has struggled to translate the form that made him a force to be reckoned with in the Eredivisie to Premier League football.
He has scored 15 goals in 56 appearances for the club in all competitions, with his performances leaving plenty to be desired. However, it appears that Jurgen Klopp may not have been doing Gakpo any favours tactically.
The Dutchman was often tasked with leading the line for Liverpool or playing as a No. 10, though his best performances for PSV came on the wing – which is the same role that he has been deployed in by Ronald Koeman at the Euros.
Gakpo has been given the licence to roam off of the left, meaning that he has been allowed to come inside and influence play whilst also looking to run the channels and stretch the defences of his Group D rivals.
Aged 25, there is still plenty of time for Gakpo to be moulded into a more complete striker and working with a Dutch manager could see him blossom – though there must be a level of consideration at Anfield for what the forward can offer out wide.
A significant amount of the Netherlands’ attacks at the Euros have come through Gakpo, and his performance against Poland highlighted all of the best qualities in his skillset. He scored a well-worked goal – albeit via a deflection – completed all five of his take-on attempts and had over 50 touches.
Gakpo’s influence on the game helped his side to a 2-1 victory, and it certainly will have provided Slot with plenty of food for thought heading into the heart of the summer transfer window. Although he is not a direct replacement for Luis Diaz in terms of his overall profile, he definitely warrants consideration on the flank heading into the 2024/25 campaign.
