Ten Hag can finally axe £180k-p/w "liability" as Man Utd plot bid for £40m "wizard" - opinion

Manchester United target Cody Gakpo has issued an update on his future, with speculation continuing to mount around the PSV Eindhoven youngster.

As per a report from De Telegraaf, via Manchester Evening News, the 23-year-old said: “Anything can happen this summer. I will now calmly compare all the options and see what is best for me.

“Staying another year is also an option. It would be a shame if I went somewhere where I wouldn’t get a job at all and I could miss the World Cup. I’ll keep that in mind.”

With Ten Hag already igniting the rebuild at Old Trafford, having commenced his role last week, he will already be looking at signings who can bolster the Red Devils’ squad; and having just moved from the Eredivisie, he will know the likes of Gakpo well.

Operating in a PSV side which pushed Ajax all the way in the Dutch title race, the 23-year-old “wizard” had an tremendous campaign for Roger Schmidt’s side, registering 12 goals and 13 assists in 27 appearances.

That is an astonishing return, and Gakpo has now had three solid campaigns in a row, bagging seven league goals in each of the two seasons prior to 2021/22.

His latest development has seen him flourish as a potent goalscorer from out wide, with his links to United bound to spell bad news for Marcus Rashford, who could leave Old Trafford this summer and has been labelled a “liability” in the past by Samuel Luckhurst.

If that is the case, a move for Gakpo could actually prove to be an upgrade for United, with the Netherlands international registering much better offensive numbers and offering the same amount of versatility as the £180k-per-week Englishman.

This season, the Dutchman has created 71 chances, with 11 of those classified as big chances, and an average of