Cody Gakpo’s stance on leaving Liverpool just six months after signing new deal | Football | Sport

A former Manchester United coach has offered insight into Cody Gakpo’s mindset regarding his time at Liverpool. The forward has spent three years at Anfield following his switch from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023. During that period, the Netherlands international has found the net 48 times in 162 matches for Liverpool, proving instrumental in the club’s Premier League title triumph under manager Arne Slot.

Gakpo has benefited from consistent playing time since Slot’s appointment as Liverpool manager, though his goalscoring form has dipped this campaign with just seven strikes in all competitions. Slot has given him 20 league starts this season, yielding five top-flight goals, with his most recent league strike arriving last month against Fulham.

Liverpool confirmed in August that Gakpo had pledged his long-term commitment to Anfield through a new contract extension with the Reds.

Former United coach Rene Meulensteen has outlined why he thinks Gakpo is content at Liverpool, whilst hinting that the winger might still consider a future departure.

“Cody Gakpo likes it at Liverpool with the Dutch coaching staff there, with Arne Slot and everything, there shouldn’t be any issue,” Meulensteen told BetGoat.

“Obviously, he hasn’t possibly played as regularly as he did last season, and that also has to do with confidence. When players play week in, week out, you know they’re going to get the spot.

“You know what he’s good at: hanging on the left-hand sideline, coming inside, and then bending one in. That is his strength but also a little bit of his weakness.

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“He’s not the greatest at going on the outside and putting a cross in or a cut back. So he likes to come inside. When the opposition sees that, they analyse that, they double it up, and then it becomes a bit of a problem.

“He’s got plenty of things going for him, in my opinion, but like plenty of other players at Liverpool, they haven’t really hit the same heights.

“Not only Gakpo, but also Mo Salah, you know how important he is. He hasn’t scored a goal for a while. So, it could well be that maybe, if they want to revamp the team a little bit.

“It could well be that maybe Gakpo is the one that might be looking for another challenge. Who knows? But he’s still a good player.

“Very important for the Dutch national team as well. And every time he’s played for the Dutch national team, he’s been doing really, really well.”