Cody Gakpo spoke to Erik ten Hag on several occasions before his Manchester United move fell through.
The Dutchman was linked with a summer switch to the Premier League and Old Trafford looked to be his most likely destination. United were hoping to add more firepower to their ranks as doubts swirled over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo and Ten Hag had targeted the Eredivisie for new recruits.
Gakpo ended up staying at PSV Eindhoven, the club where he has spent the entirety of his career, after a deal failed to materialise. Interest in the forward was high and other Premier League suitors came in for the 23-year-old late in the window but the player remains in the Netherlands.
He told The Times : "I was close to leaving, I spoke to Erik ten Hag a few times at Manchester United. In the end the deal didn’t go through, which was a shame, for me and my development, and because Manchester United is one of the biggest clubs in the world, but also for PSV, because to transfer a player to Manchester United is a good thing for the club.
"It ended about a week before the end of the transfer window and in that week I had to decide if I would go to Leeds or Southampton. In the end I stayed, but it was a stressful period."
United's huge outlay in the summer on the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Antony, who cost north of £80m, hampered their desire to bring in a new forward. The Red Devils spent around £200m which left little room to pay the sort of money PSV were seeking for Gapo.
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The Dutchman, whose side missed out on the Champions League, which increased their need to sell, has been in sensational form so far this term. He's scored 13 times in 18 outings as PSV sit one point off the top of the Eredivisie.
United, as well as other top flight outfits, are expected to reignite their interest in January and whilst Gakpo is more than content in Eindhoven, he would consider a move away if an opportunity arose.
He said: "I always said if I stay here, it’s my childhood club. It’s not a punishment. I like being here, I want to win trophies here and do my best for the club. But if I got the chance to go to the Premier League or something, of course I would have to consider that option. At that time it was hectic for me but I recovered pretty quickly."
