Real Madrid News
Real Madrid to battle Liverpool, Man United, Bayern Munich for €50m Dutch sensation
Netherlands international Cody Gakpo has emerged as one of the breakthrough stars of the FIFA World Cup 2022 so far. And, it seems like his performances have caught the eyes of some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid.
Indeed, according to Marco Timmer of Voetbal International, Gakpo is on the radars of some of the elite teams in the continent in the form of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Gakpo is a product of the PSV Eindhoven academy and has been dominating the Dutch footballing scenes over the past couple of seasons. Having plundered 21 goals and set up 15 more in all competitions last season, the 23-year-old has been in top form this term.
In just 24 matches for PSV, he has been involved in 30 goals (13 goals, 17 assists) this season. And he has carried that form forward at the World Cup stages, scoring two in two so far for the Netherlands.
A left-winger by trade, the 23-year-old has now popped up on the radars of Real Madrid. Los Blancos could be in need of new attackers next summer with Eden Hazard likely to leave and Marco Asensio’s future also uncertain at this point.
Gakpo, to that end, can prove to be a top acquisition, although he would be competing with Vinicius Jr for a starting berth on the left.
But Los Blancos will face competition from Premier League heavyweights Manchester United and Liverpool as well as German champions Bayern Munich.
PSV, for their part, would be open to selling their prized asset for a fee of at least €50 million. The 23-year-old is currently fully focused on the World Cup. But after the tournament in Qatar, talks between his camp and the interested parties are expected to kickstart.
It remains to be seen if Real Madrid are able to capture his services or whether they decide to look elsewhere to bolster their frontline, given that the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Rafael Leao have also been linked.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
