Manchester United and Newcastle face competition from Real Madrid for Holland hotshot Cody Gakpo.
Gakpo starred for Holland at the World Cup and the PSV Eindhoven striker scored three goals during Louis van Gaal’s side’s march to the quarter-finals.
United considered signing Gakpo before the summer transfer window closed before they bought Brazil winger Antony from Ajax. United have renewed their interest in the Eindhoven-born forward and they need a striker since parting ways last month with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Gakpo, 23, has continued his fine form this season, scoring 16 goals for PSV and Holland. Newcastle are also keen on him, but the Premier League clubs face stiff competition from Real Madrid.
Real have stepped up their interest since Gakpo’s success in Qatar and are preparing a bid. Gakpo has attracted plenty of interest and Leeds came within hours of signing him in August, only for PSV to pull the plug on his transfer to Elland Road.
PSV Eindhoven's director of football Marcel Brands admitted early this week that the Dutch side are preparing to cash in on Gakpo in the January transfer window. Brands insisted PSV will not stand in his way if he wishes to depart, but is adamant a record fee would be needed.
"You have to be realistic. When you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag, how many clubs are able to buy a player of that calibre? You are talking about maybe 10 or 12 clubs in Europe," Brands told the PSV supporters' club talk show Eeuwig Trouw.
How many goals would Gakpo score for Manchester United in the second half of this season? Comment here
"You have to need a player in that position and be able and willing to spend the money in January, which is normally less hectic than the summer. We have yet to see if it all happens. He has no clause or anything.
"And no amounts have been agreed on either. The agreements that were made were there before my time. Amounts have not been discussed, but if the right club comes that Cody would like to go.
"Those agreements were already made before I came. It must be a record transfer for PSV anyway. Then you know in which direction it should go."
