Manchester United have formally opened talks over a move for PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo, according to a report.
Speculation surrounding the Netherlands international's future has been rife for a number of months now, and Man United have long been regarded as the favourites for his signature.
Gakpo's stock has risen further following a positive World Cup campaign in which he scored three goals in five games for Oranje, who lost to Argentina on penalties in the quarter-finals.
At club level, Gakpo has amassed 13 goals and 17 assists from 24 games in a PSV shirt this term, and his contract with Ruud van Nistelrooy's side does not expire for another three-and-a-half years.
However, Van Nistelrooy has admitted that he may be powerless to stop the highly-rated 23-year-old from leaving in January, telling the press: ""If I have the choice, I prefer [Gakpo to leave in] the summer, but it can also be now. You just know there comes a time when you can't say no."
© Reuters
According to The Mirror, Man United have now officially begun negotiations to bring Gakpo to Old Trafford in January, having learned of financial problems at PSV that will work in their favour.
A fee of £50m would reportedly be sufficient for PSV to sanction a sale as they desperately try to raise funds, and even a figure slightly below that valuation could also do the trick.
Erik ten Hag supposedly views Gakpo as the perfect player to spearhead the Red Devils' charge for a top-four finish, and contact has now been made with his Dutch club.
The attacker is said to have given the green light to personal terms over the summer, when Man United tried and failed to prise him away from PSV before turning their attention to Antony.
With Man United out of the running, Leeds United and Southampton engaged in a fierce late battle to bring Gakpo to the Premier League during the most recent window, and the former quickly stole ahead in the race.
© Reuters
However, then-sporting director John de Jong vetoed a £40m transfer due to his concerns that PSV were selling on the cheap, but their economic troubles have only deepened since then.
As a result, PSV's chief financial officer Ton van Veen is working to finalise the attacker's January move to Old Trafford, and Gakpo is more than willing to make the switch next month to help the Eredivisie giants alleviate their financial woes.
Ten Hag was questioned on Gakpo's potential arrival on Friday, but the Man United boss unsurprisingly had little to say on the matter, responding: "There were many many good players in the World Cup."
Gakpo has been on the books at PSV since 2007 and has registered 55 goals and 50 assists in 159 games for the club in that time, winning one Eredivisie title and one KNVB-Beker.
The Dutchman would arrive at Old Trafford to compete with Antony, Anthony Elanga, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho for attacking starts following Cristiano Ronaldo's bitter exit.
Ben Knapton
