Liverpool could end up ‘blocking’ a Chelsea transfer for a young forward who has previously compared himself to Lionel Messi. He has a valuation of $16m.
Liverpool’s $53m (£44m/€50m) move for Cody Gakpo may deny one of their Premier League rivals a transfer target, according to a report.
The Reds moved quickly to tie up a deal for Gakpo, announcing the signing before the transfer window had even opened.
The 23-year-old had been in sensational form for his club PSV Eindhoven, scoring 13 goals and providing 17 assists prior to the World Cup break.
PSV currently find themselves in what could be a five-horse title race in the Eredivisie.
They sit third in the league, three points adrift of leaders Feyenoord and behind reigning champions Ajax on goal difference.
Twente and AZ Alkmaar are both only one point further back in fourth and fifth respectively.
They’re also set to take on Sevilla in the Europa League playoff round next month after finishing second in their group behind Arsenal.
In these circumstances, manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has insisted that ‘no one’ else can leave the Philips Stadion this month.
And that could prevent Chelsea from doing a deal for Gakpo’s former teammate Noni Madueke, so say Voetbal International.
The Blues have been following the Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur academy graduate ‘for a long time’ but may now have to wait until the end of the season before they can make a move.
The 20-year-old Englishman has been limited to four Eredivisie appearances this season because of an ankle injury, but played in a friendly win over AC Milan just before the New Year and scored twice. He is valued by Transfermarkt at $16m (£13m/€15m), but likely to be rated much higher by his club.
Last season, he scored three goals and provided as many assists in 11 league starts, and netted a brace to lead his side to the Dutch Super Cup.
Madueke says (via Goal) he plays with the ‘confident arrogance’ of idols like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.
It’s not all bad news for Chelsea, though, because they are on course to seal a six-month loan deal for Atlético Madrid forward João Félix.
GO DEEPER: Madueke as a possible Mohamed Salah solution.
