Manchester United will reportedly face competition from Real Madrid if they are to land PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo next year.
The Netherlands international is understood to be a priority target of Erik ten Hag's following a standout World Cup campaign with Louis van Gaal's men in Qatar.
Gakpo scored in all three of the Netherlands' group games and has continued to shine at club level, recording 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 matches during the 2022-23 season.
Despite being under contract at the Philips Stadion until the summer of 2026, PSV are fighting an uphill battle to retain Gakpo's services, but the Dutch giants will likely demand a club-record fee to sanction a sale.
According to former Netherlands winger Rene Van de Kerkhof, Real Madrid are firmly in the race to sign Gakpo as they start to plan for life without Karim Benzema.
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Benzema will turn 35 the day after the World Cup final and is due to become a free agent in the summer of 2023, although Real are expected to offer the Ballon d'Or winner a short-term extension.
However, Van de Kerkhof states that Real Madrid hold a "serious interest" in Gakpo and would be willing to fork out PSV's asking price of €75m (£64.6m) to beat Man United to his signature.
As quoted by AS, Van de Kerkhof said: "I have reliable Spanish sources that report that Real wants to get Cody Gakpo as Benzema's successor.
"What I heard is that they have a serious interest in Gakpo there, but PSV certainly should not sell it for less than 75 million euros this winter. Although that amount is not a problem for that club."
Real are not thought to be plotting a January move for Gakpo due to Carlo Ancelotti's confidence in his current attacking options, but they will ramp up their interest in the summer if the 23-year-old snubs a winter move to Old Trafford.
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PSV director of football Marcel Brands recently admitted that Gakpo would be interested in a move elsewhere should the right project come calling, although he is yet to hear of any concrete interest from potential suitors.
"You have to be realistic. If you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag attached to him, there may be 10 to 12 clubs in Europe that can afford him," Brands told Eeuwig Trouw.
"Amounts have not been discussed, but if the right club comes that Cody would like to go. Those agreements were already made before I came. It must be a record transfer for PSV anyway. Then you know in which direction it should go.
"In the media it seems like all the clubs are lining up, but the reality is that we don't know anything about interest or anything yet. It's quiet. I've spoken to Cody, he's going on vacation for 10 days. If something is at play, it is perhaps known to Cody or his management, but not to us yet."
Gakpo has registered a total of 55 goals and 50 assists in 159 outings for PSV since being promoted from their youth ranks, and Man United boss Ten Hag has confirmed that his side will look to sign a new striker in January.
Ben Knapton
