Liverpool hold 'exploratory talks' with thrilling winger - fee could reach €40m - Klopp could make him world class

Liverpool and Manchester City are in battle to sign PSV Eindhoven attacker, Cody Gakpo, according to Voetbal International.

The Dutch international is already under the contract until 2025 but is in talks with the club to extend his terms to 2026 but this reportedly shouldn't prevent him from leaving in the summer.

Is Cody Gakpo another Donyell Malen or can he deliver on his promise?

Gakpo has 10 goals and 11 assists this season but aside from two goals in each of the Champions League qualifying stages and the Europa League group stages, all of his attacking contributions have come in Holland.

This does make it a little bit difficult to judge his quality as the Eredivisie isn't one of the top 5 leagues in Europe so signing players from the Netherlands can present a risk as Borussia Dortmund discovered in the summer.

They beat Liverpool to Donyell Malen's signature but the Dutchman has just 6 goals and 5 assists this term and is currently unlikely to match the 27 goals and 10 assists he plundered last season for PSV.

It might be that Liverpool dodged a bullet with the rapid 23-year-old although I'm inclined to believe Jurgen Klopp would have been able to better utilise his pace, dribbling, clever movement and finishing, however, there is no way to prove that point.

Man City and Liverpool hold talks with Gakpo despite contract extension

Voetbal International's report begins by stating that despite Gakpo being on the verge of a new deal with PSV, he is "there is a good chance that the 22-year-old attacker will leave the Eindhoven club this summer."

"It has been clear for some time that Gakpo will only leave PSV for an absolute top club in Europe."

Reportedly, Bayern Munich showed interest before the start of the 21/22 season but Man City and Liverpool are now the favourites to land his signature and "it is clear that the footballer himself now also spoke with both clubs."

The top two Premier League sides have held 'exploratory talks' with Gakpo and while he's set to renew with PSV, that's not necessarily an indication of his long-term intentions.

The report continues: "Gakpo has not decided anything yet. In the meantime, he will even extend his contract that expires in 2025 for a year.

"This also to raise the transfer amount for PSV to perhaps record high. That is currently the transfer of Hirving Lozano from PSV to Napoli for £40 million."

Jurgen Klopp can make Gakpo world-class if he can deliver on his potential

As I already mentioned, I have concerns over whether or not Gakpo can make the step up to the Premier League and make an immediate impact but if there is a coach that can help him make that step, it's Jurgen Klopp.

The German has overseen the careers of world-class strikers like Robert Lewandowski and in his prime, Roberto Firmino.

The 54-year-old has also coached top class attacking midfielders like Shinji Kagawa, Phillipe Coutinho and Mario Gotze.

And at Liverpool more recently, he has taken Sadio Mane and, particularly, Mohamed Salah to incredible heights. Diogo Jota is now showing that he can achieve world-class status if he's able to avoid injury.

Gakpo is a question mark.

That's undeniable but at 22 years of age with an obvious eye for goal, insane pace and a creative streak, he has all the tools required to become a top attacker if he makes the right career choice.

He's also very tall at 1.89m (6ft2) and so he could be a very interesting option to come in and provide cover and competition for Sadio Mane.

Klopp loves having at least one winger that is aerially strong and so Gakpo would be ideal in that sense.

Salah is never going to be the type contesting aerial balls at the far post and so that role falls to the starting no.9 - these days that's Jota - and whoever starts at left-wing but there have been increased calls for Mane to be given the chance to be rested which requires the Reds to dip their toes in the transfer market.