Arsenal would be an "incredible" option for Cody Gakpo in the Premier League if he were to leave PSV Eindhoven in the upcoming transfer windows, according to Ryan Babel.
Gakpo has long been linked with a move away from PSV, but the speculation has stepped up a notch with the 23-year-old currently on display for the Netherlands at the World Cup. The young forward has scored in each of his country’s group stage matches against Senegal, Ecuador and hosts Qatar.
Manchester United and Southampton were among the Premier League sides most strongly linked with Gakpo over the summer. He came close to leaving PSV but the Dutch side eventually managed to hold onto their star player, for the time being.
With the January transfer window following soon after the World Cup, there will be increased competition for his signature. Babel left Ajax for Liverpool in 2007, so knows how difficult the jump from the Eredivisie to the Premier League can be, and he has offered his compatriot some words of advice.
“You see him linked to clubs in England, such as Manchester United,” he wrote for The Athletic. “Everyone has the right price so let’s see how he develops in the tournament. He has shown enough quality that he is ready for the next step, whether it’s in January or next summer.
“As a Liverpool fan, I would tell him to go to Liverpool if they make an approach! Arsenal would also be an incredible team for him, with the current manager and the project that they’re building. He has to follow his heart.
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“When you are a young Dutch player, it is flattering to be linked to big clubs in England, but going from the Dutch league to the Premier League is a big step. Not every player is able to adapt and able to survive in the Premier League.
“There are a lot of players who are written as the next star, then they go to the Premier League and they can’t cope.”
Gakpo has been one of the undoubted stars of the early stages of the World Cup, netting in the Netherlands 2-0 win over Senegal, their 1-1 draw against Ecuador and against Qatar on Tuesday. His powerful left-footed strike against Ecuador was particularly eye-catching, given he is naturally right-footed.
His eye for goal shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, Gakpo has contributed 55 goals and 50 assists in 159 games for PSV across all competitions and now has six strikes in 11 games for the Netherlands.
Speaking about the transfer rumours before the Qatar game, Gakpo said: "It’s always nice to hear, but I just focus here and do my best. I don’t get shy about the rumours. But it’s a team sport, it’s not about one person.
"I prefer it to be about the team. It’s nice things that people write, but I’m not too concerned with that. Right now I’m busy with the Dutch team. I’ll see what happens in the winter. In football, anything is possible.”
