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Topics: Liverpool, Cody Gakpo, Premier League, Football, PSV
George Priestman
Topics: Liverpool, Cody Gakpo, Premier League, Football, PSV
Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has expressed doubts over whether the imminent Cody Gakpo will be a success for the club.
The Merseyside club are expected to announce the signing of the PSV Eindhoven forward in the coming hours, as he is currently undergoing a medical at the club.
Having starred for club and country this season, Gakpo was in high demand, with Manchester United seemingly the frontrunners for his signature - yet, Liverpool have swooped in out of nowhere to secure the signing.
Despite scoring a hatful of goals, as well as starring at the World Cup in Qatar, former Liverpool defender Nicol has raised concerns over the move.
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Given the injury issues that the Reds have in the forward areas, Gakpo stands as a mid-season boost, as they look to return to the top four places, as well as mount challenges across the FA Cup and Champions League.
Considering Liverpool will be without Diogo Jota until February and Luis Diaz until March, the Gakpo signing makes sense for right now.
However, in the long term, Liverpool will have a deep catalogue of forwards, and its likely that Roberto Firmino, who's contract expires in the summer, will likely make way for this new age of attacking talent.
In terms of Nicol's doubts, he is struggling to see where he fits in this Liverpool side.
"I'm not 100 per cent sure," Nicol told ESPN FC. "Where does he play? He doesn't play way up high, he doesn't play in the middle. He's kind of in between.
"Where does that fit in with the way Liverpool play? I'm not so sure it does. Unless they see something and he's going to play wide of the front three, or else they're going to sit him back and he's going to be doing a sort of Jude Bellingham [role] by getting into the box late.
"Is he going to do all the hard work and get forward? But for me, he's kind of in between."
Gakpo has 13 goals and 17 assists in just 24 appearances for PSV this season, and he stands out on his own as the leading goal provider in Europe ahead of the likes of Lionel Messi and Kevin De Bruyne.
He starred for the Netherlands down the centre for Louis van Gaal, scoring in all three of their group games against Ecuador, Qatar and Senegal.
Klopp will have another young, direct and flexible forward to work with and he can certainly be a replacement on the left wing for Diaz, whilst he can also play down the centre with Darwin Nunez on the left wing.
Or he could feature in a front two or as a left inside-forward if Klopp looks to roll out the 4-2-2-2 formation he utilised in games against West Ham, Rangers and Manchester City. We'll just have to see if he can prove Nicol wrong and be a success at Anfield.
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