The 23 year old PSV forward was integral at the World Cup, on the Netherlands journey to the Quarter Finals, and will join Jurgen Klopp's side when the January transfer window opens.
The Dutchman will join Liverpool for an initial £37m fee, which could potentially rise to a reported £44m including add-ons. The striker will sign a six year contract, that will see him at Anfield until 2029.
Gakpo, an academy product for PSV, is experiencing a break-out campaign this season, he currently has 12 goals in 23 appearances in all competitions for his club. In Qatar, he became the first Dutch player to score in all three group games at a World Cup and he was included in the team of the tournament.
It is a surprising move from Liverpool, who made a record-breaking deal for Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez in the summer. Manchester United were the frontrunners to secure Gakpo, with Erik Ten Hag familiar with the forward during his five years in the Eredivisie at Ajax. Ten Hag's favoured counter-attacking 4-2-3-1 tactic's would have suited the new signing, as it was similarly favoured by his former club Ajax and the Netherlands.
Jurgen Klopp has an armoury of attacking threats at his disposal already including Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. Although, Liverpool have been plagued with injuries this season; Luis Diaz sustained a severe knee injury in October and was ruled out for over three months. Likewise, Diogo Jota was forced to miss the World Cup with a calf injury until February and Roberto Firmino has persistently been struggling with injuries throughout the season.
The new signing will need to be an instant impact for his new club, as Jurgen Klopp has been given a selection headache recently, such as their recent Premier League game against West Ham where he was forced to give outcast Alex Oxlade-Chainbelin his first league start of the season.
It is the first big move of what is expected to be a busy transfer window this January, and is a statement from Liverpool owners FSG, who have recently been heavily critisced for their lack of investment in the squad.
Capped 14 times by the Netherlands, Gakpo was one of Europe's most sort after players this winter and Liverpool beat a host of big clubs such as Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus to his signature.
He is a versatile attacker, capable of playing as a traditional number nine, or out-wide on the left wing or right wing. At PSV, he was predominantly used on the left-wing behind striker Lukke De Jong, and likewise he played out wide for the Netherlands with his trademark to cut in and hurt teams.
At Liverpool he will either play out-wide on the left, with Darwin Nunez playing down the centre or he could play in a 4-2-2 partnered alongside Nunez.
Will Cody Gakpo be a success at Liverpool?
Yes
No
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