Former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has urged his old club to 'hijack' Manchester United's attempts to sign Cody Gakpo in January.
United were interested in Gakpo during the summer as talks to sign Antony hit the rocks. Ten Hag had conversations with the Dutch forward's agent as he looked to strike a deal.
Those initial discussions did not develop though as eventually, United would sign Antony. However, following Cristiano Ronaldo's dramatic departure last month, the Reds are now in serious need of a forward to fill a gap in their forward line.
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So far this season, United have managed to score a mere 20 goals in the Premier League which has left them with a goal difference of 0. Gakpo meanwhile has grabbed 13 goals and 17 assists in the Eredivisie before the World Cup break.
The 23-year-old would continue his sparkling form in Qatar for the Netherlands, scoring three goals in five matches as the Dutch reached the quarter-finals. His performances have brought a lot of eyes onto Gakpo with the Reds likely not to be the only side interested in the forward.
Johnson believes that Liverpool should approach Gakpo with an offer not only to spite United but because of the forward's talents. Speaking to GGRecon, the former defender said: "I'd encourage them to hijack the move purely for how good the player is, rather than the fact he could be going to Manchester United.
"£50m is cheap nowadays, so if you can get a young, quality player for that price, then you've got to do what you can to hijack it." Some reports have suggested that Gakpo could be sold for £50m however the Dutch club remains in the driving seat.
Gakpo remains under contract until 2026 and PSV may opt to inflate his price following his impressive spell at the World Cup.
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