"I'm looking at the fee" - Pundit stunned by how much Liverpool paid for Gakpo as Championship comparison made

Liverpool's deal for Cody Gakpo has been hailed as a "great piece of business" by former Scotland international Craig Burley.

Gakpo will join Liverpool on a five-and-half-year deal from PSV Eindhoven when the transfer window opens on January 1.

Liverpool are believed to have paid an initial £37m fee for the 23-year-old, which could rise to around £45m with add-ons.

It is another transfer coup for Liverpool, with Gakpo in high demand after impressing for the Netherlands at the World Cup in Qatar.

Manchester United and Arsenal were also linked with the versatile forward, who can play across the front line, and Burley believes Gakpo will turn out to be a successful signing at Liverpool.

"I look at this player and I think it's one of the great bits of business, I really do. I keep looking at the fee. I keep looking at the fee and thinking, 'no, this is not 2022, this is 2012, 2010 or 2009'," Burley told ESPN.

"The guy is 23, when I look at him as a player and the left-hand side is his best position, but I look at this guy, who for me could play in several positions if need be and could adapt.

"He's got the physical attributes, and yes, he will have to step those up. And it will be a step up for him. We know he can score goals. We know he has those attributes I talked about. We know he is flexible. And £37m?

"I mean, you go to the Championship and you get somebody who has had a one-season wonder and you are going to be paying £25m, £35m or £40m-plus for somebody.

"If they were bringing him in at £80m or £90m, then you would be like 'oooh'. This is a terrific piece of business from Liverpool and I think it's a great move for the player as well. Going into that club, the way they play, with this manager, it's great business all-round."

When will Gakpo make his Liverpool debut?

Gakpo is not eligible to play in Liverpool's next match against Leicester on Friday night.

He could potentially make his debut against Brentford on January 2, if he is registered in time.

However, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has suggested Gakpo may have to wait a little longer to make his first Reds appearance.

"What I heard now - so we are obviously very early, which is good - there might be a chance for Brentford," Klopp said ahead of the Leicester match.

"But I think not really, because the 1st of January is a Bank Holiday and, all the papers, other people have to sign on the 2nd until lunchtime.

"I'm not too positive that that will happen."

He added: "We will not rush it anyway, so probably [against] Wolves [in the FA Cup on January 7]."