Manchester United have been given the green light to finally sign Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven, according to new reports.
United's interest in the forward dates back to this summer, when the player himself admitted in an interview with The Times that he held personal talks with Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag over a move.
But United failed to offer PSV a satisfactory amount when they did place a bid, and a potential move to Leeds also fell through on deadline day.
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Gakpo, therefore, remained in the Eredivisie, where he has nine goals and 12 assists to his name in 14 appearances this term.
He also scored three goals - all in the group stage - for Netherlands during the World Cup, helping them to reach the quarter-finals. They were knocked out by eventual winners Argentina.
Gakpo now returns to his club side amid heavy rumours that he will be leaving the club in January. Along with United, Arsenal have also been credited with an interest, whilst Leeds boss Jesse Marsch has conceded in an interview on the Men in Blazers podcast that his side will likely not be able to pay the fee required to sign the 23-year-old.
Man Utd 'given green light' to sign Cody Gakpo
PSV boss Ruud van Nistelrooy was asked by Dutch outlet Voetball about Gakpo's immediate future ahead of what will likely be a busy January window for the club.
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He replied: "There comes a time when you can't say no anymore."
Those words will come as a major boost to United and Arsenal, with the Red Devils potentially set to do business with their former player if they do enter negotiations to sign the 23-year-old.
Fabrizio Romano claimed last month that a fee of £43m would be enough to ensure PSV would consider entering into talks.
And PSV chief executive Marcel Brands recently admitted, as per Chronicle Live, that the club must receive a record fee for Gakpo, with the current record standing at the €45m Napoli paid to sign winger Hirving Lozano.
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Should Ten Hag and United be desperate to bring Gakpo in, the club will need to get the cheque book out in order to pay PSV's asking price.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Manchester United, Transfers, Erik Ten Hag, Premier League, Football World Cup