Former Chelsea and France defender Frank Leboeuf has advised Arsenal against signing Cody Gakpo despite the PSV winger being a 'good target' in the January transfer window.
Gakpo has been linked with Arsenal following an injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus while on international duty at the World Cup which could see the Brazil striker ruled out until February. Jesus has become a pivotal member of Mikel Arteta's side and a move for Gakpo would hope to mitigate the loss of the 24-year-old.
However, he is not a natural number nine in the mould of Jesus and a potential move could see a shift for Gabriel Martinelli into a central role with Gakpo operating in the left-wing position which he is more suited to. He would remain a goal threat from this wide position, having scored three times at the World Cup in addition to his 13 goals so far this season for PSV.
READ MORE: Arteta imitates Wenger hint amid talk of new Arsenal contract for Martinelli
He could cost around £50m, which would be a big outlay for a player who may become a rotation option within months due to the strength of the options already in his position. This has led Leboeuf, who won the World Cup with France in 1998, to suggest that it would be a bad transfer for the Gunners.
Leboeuf told Safe Betting Sites: “Gakpo would be a good target. He had a fantastic World Cup. He's young, he’s a great talent and he represents the future of football. But there is always a dilemma when you want to replace somebody with a great player. When that injured player returns, what happens then? Does he go straight back into the team in place of the new signing?
“So if you sign Gakpo and put him in competition with Gabriel Jesus, who then finds himself back in the situation he was in at Manchester City. Maybe you risk upsetting him and the dressing room? But equally maybe he is not going to worry. But it is also possible that he's gonna be unhappy because he was playing great before his injury.
“It could be dramatic at the end of the day. So you have to believe that Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal board have already thought through the pros and cons but will have to be 100% sure that Gakpo can be good for the team in the squad before they try to sign him. It's a tricky balance that's the problem.”
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