Liverpool told to "hijack" Man Utd's bid to sign World Cup star

Liverpool have been urged to "hijack" Manchester United's bid to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Cody Gakpo.

Gakpo, 23, is become one of the most highly sought-after forwards in European football after impressing at the World Cup with the Netherlands.

The PSV winger scored in each of the Netherlands' three group games and helped his nation reach the quarter-finals, where they were narrowly beaten on penalties by Argentina.

A number of Premier League sides, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Leeds United, have been linked with a January move for Gakpo.

United are believed to be at the front of the queue to sign the winger, who has already revealed that he held talks with Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag in the summer transfer window.

Johnson: Liverpool should hijack United's bid for Gakpo

It has been claimed that Gakpo could cost around £50m to sign in January and former Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has urged the club to make a move for the winger.

"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," Johnson told GGRecon.

"£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."

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claims Gakpo could leave PSV Eindhoven for less than £50m, despite the number of clubs wanting to sign the winger.

"PSV's original plan was to let him go in the summer and not in January," Romano said on his YouTube channel last week.

"But now, after this World Cup, if a bid of more than 50 million euros (£43m) will arrive, there is a chance for Gakpo to leave in January."

He added: "I'm told there is a serious chance. So keep an eye on the market in the next days."

Gakpo: I will think about it

Gakpo says he would consider joining United if they attempted to sign him in January, but he is taking nothing for granted.

"What comes, will come," he told Dutch outlet NRC.

"Suppose you want to go from RKC to PSV, but that club doesn't come. Then you can panic. I thought about Manchester United, but when that didn't happen, I didn't know anymore

"And I started having doubts. Leeds United did come. Should I go there? Now I wait and see everything.

"I haven't heard from Manchester United yet. If they come, I will think about it. In these decisions too, I seek God's help. I ask him what I can do best."