Thread by @EverydayUnited2

Why Cody Gakpo is a good forward option in the January transfer window

A detailed deep dive on why the Dutch attacker could be the solution to our attacking options

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Player Profile

Name: Cody Gakpo
Age: 23
Position: LW/CF
Nationality: Dutch
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Height: 189cm (6,2)
Value: €45m
Senior games played: 188

Strengths/Weaknesses

✅Finishing
✅Dribbling
✅Key passes
✅Crossing
✅Pace
✅Physicality
✅Set Pieces
✅Movement
✅Aerial Ability

❌needs defensive improvement
❌Link play centrally

Key talking points to the thread

1️⃣Finishing
2️⃣Creativity
3️⃣Can he become a CF
4️⃣Defensive Contribution

1️⃣Finishing

Gakpo is a sensational finisher. With 9 goals from 7.45 xG he is the Eredivise top scorer, often not starting as the CF.

Ranking In the 98th % for goals in the big 5 leagues this season. He is a high volume shooter but very efficient, over performing his xG

Gakpo primarily plays off the LW for PSV, cutting inside from the touchline to finish but he often can pick up pockets in the half spaces. His right foot is ferocious

🎥1- The ball striking is incredible
🎥2- intelligent movement, great touch and perfect finish twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The 23 year old is excellent in counter attacking scenarios. Explosive pace + top composure, he’s a massive threat on the break

🎥1- excellent first touch but the explosive pace is scary. Good finish
🎥2- the touch is superb, lovely composure and perfect finish on his weak foot twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2️⃣Creativity

Gakpo also leads the league in assists this year with 12 in 14 games. Incredible return.

He is a creative machine, in the 96/98% for SCA/GCA. He can do it all different ways: Free kicks, corners, passes, dribbles. A real creative all rounder

🎥1- I love how he slows the play down here, one touch outside the FB before a beautiful cross

🎥2- with his back to goal, looks up once and a similar cross again, beautifully flighted

Ranks in the 97% for crosses completed with 8 assists from 34 crosses from the LW this year twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Gakpo is the corner/free kick taker for PSV and Holland. He has an absolutely excellent delivery, ranking in the 96% for successful passes from dead ball situations

He likes to whip crosses in with pace but he can ping a ball in with accuracy, United lack goals from set pieces

Gakpo is an incredible dribbler, ranking In the 95% for dribbles completed. He’s brilliant

🎥1- the touch, close control, speed, the body feint before the shot. Simply world class play

🎥2- again slows the ball down excellently, before a quick burst. His close control is top twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

3️⃣CF?

Yes, I think Gakpo can be moulded into a CF. Rashford has played Centrally often under Erik ten Hag and has developed immensely in his movement, aerial ability and hold up play

Gakpo already has experience of playing down the middle but can be better with Erik

Gakpo is very good in the air. He ranks in the 89th percentile for aerials won

🎥1- I love the position he picks up here, it’s typical CF play. He moves into the channel between FB/CB before executing an excellent header

Working under Ruud Van Nistlerooy will help his CF play

This is the shop map of Gakpo from the last calendar year. Note how many goals Gakpo has scored from central areas

He likes this position, often coming from the left into this area but if he can see the goals come from this central zone, I can see him enjoying the CF role

At 6 foot 2, Gakpo is a real physically dominant player. He is extremely powerful and can pin down defenders, holding the ball and bringing others into play or rolling the defender.

His is explosive, powering past CBs on either side to create goal scoring opportunities

Expect Antony to start on the RW. The LW Rashford with Martial/Gakpo alternating in CF

That is a very fluid front 3 with excellent pressing capability who interchange roles. This causes confusion for defences, Gakpo/Martial may start CF but can rotate with Rashford at LW

4️⃣Defensively

Gakpo shows glimpses of good defending. I think he needs to be better off the ball, showing more desire to tackle and block passes but I think that will come if he goes to United

He will need to offer that off ball ability to get in the team, he can do it twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Gakpo is already a very good presser, a major upgrade on Ronaldo. He likes to sit on the edge of the box before pressing the zone between GK/LCB cutting off the passing Lane. With Antony sitting on the LB and Bruno coming into the RCB, our pressing routines will improve massively

Eriks demands a lot from his strikers. ‘Attackers nowadays think they have to save their energy for going forward. Nowadays, both is a demand’

Erik has a real emphasis on pressing and defending as an 11. We’ve seen a real difference in that already this year, Gakpo helps that

According to Dutch sources United have agreed personal terms with Gakpo from the summer

The same sources say that PSV are under financial pressure to sell in January and Gakpo will leave. I expect the fee to be around £40-£45m but I think that’s a solid long term investment

At 23 years Gakpo is young but he already has a winning mentality from competing for titles with PSV, winning the Dutch cup last season playing a key role

He also captains PSV, showing leadership qualities that would definitely help United. A good signing on and off the pitch

Summary❓

I really like Gakpo, I think more big teams should be looking at him like Arsenal/Liverpool due to his flexibility but mainly his quality

He has a great physical stature with superb ball striking and good aerial ability. As a LW option he’s really very good but the

Option to play him as a CF is a great trait to have. Martial would still be First choice for me with Gakpo alternating between LW and covering for Martial. The doubt I have is, can he be a CF who plays a full year and guarantees you goals. I’m not 100% sure.

He needs to improve

With his back to goal/link up play too. I think we will sign Gakpo in January however I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see him come in in Jan but for Erik to look at a ST in summer due to the unreliability/inconsistency of Martial

At £40m in Jan, it’s a good deal

End of Thread!!

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