Journalist Dean Jones believes that Leeds United may well have missed their chance to sign Cody Gakpo this past summer, with the winger now a “hard get”.
Gakpo was the subject of interest from the West Yorkshire club in the summer, with director of football Victor Orta even flying out for talks with PSV, according to The Athletic.
However, the Eredivisie outfit decided against sanctioning a deal, with the forward happy to continue at his boyhood club.
Further reports have since added that the Whites retained their interest beyond September’s deadline, but that the Dutchman is now targeting a move to either Manchester United or Real Madrid.
With the upcoming World Cup, the nine-cap Dutch international is likely to see his stock increase further, and Jones is of the impression that Leeds have come as close as they ever will to securing his services.
He told GiveMeSport: “I just think Gakpo is going to be such a hard get now. I know they nearly got him in the summer, but I’ve got a feeling that will be as close as they’ll ever get.
“He’s been in such good form. We’ve got to consider too, that he’s going to the World Cup as part of a good side, and if he has a good World Cup, then I think they can forget about it, to be honest.”
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According to former Netherlands midfielder Theo Janssen, the £31.5m-rated star ‘has everything’, and after netting 21 goals and providing 15 assists last season, he looks set for a stellar campaign once again this term.
He has scored 13 times and set up a further 10 in just 16 appearances in all competitions, while increasing his tally in each department for the national team during the recent international break.
That level of output is sure to be attracting interest from across the continent, which may well work against Leeds.