Cody Gakpo reveals what Jurgen Klopp told him after he joined Liverpool
Cody Gakpo continues to feel at home in Liverpool and has revealed Jurgen Klopp’s words that helped motivate him when he joined last January.
Jurgen Klopp rarely misses getting the best out of a significant transfer. There are instances that some of Liverpool’s big-money signings have failed to make a mark, but that has been mainly due to injuries rather than form. The latest star on the block is Cody Gakpo.
In the case of bringing in attacking players, Klopp rarely has got it wrong, including Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and the likes. Over the last year, Liverpool have gone about further revamping their forward line with the signings of Darwin Nunez last summer and Cody Gakpo in January.
Gakpo, in particular, has caught the eye of the supporters owing to his versatility in the attacking positions. At times, he has also started as a part of the midfield three, which is quite surprising given his attributes to play mostly forward.
At Liverpool, he is already tasked with three different roles, including sometimes playing centre-forward. He already has 11 goals for the club since signing last January, and there is an expectation that he will succeed here in the mould of their former Brazilian star Firmino.
Speaking to Voetbal Primeur, Gakpo discussed many things and revealed Klopp’s words that apparently motivated him when he joined. He said,“It was an exciting year in which I made a beautiful journey. And still. I feel very much at home in Liverpool. Football is going well; we live nicely.”
“My girlfriend is happy, and my family and friends are also experiencing everything. Then you are blessed. He (Klopp) immediately said in January: ‘Cody can play good pressing, he can do as a striker what Roberto Firmino did for us for years.’ I am challenged to get out of my comfort zone. I like that.”
Gakpo is already enjoying his new position at Liverpool, which is very different from how things were back at PSV Eindhoven. In the Eredivisie, he played more on the wings. But with Klopp’s ideas of viewing him as a successor to Firmino, things are about to change more.
Evolving in the Firmino role is not an easy task. The Brazilian’s primary job focused on stitching the attack together rather than being a prolific force ahead of the goal. The Liverpool legend had his share of critical strikes. But more importantly, he was seen as an orchestrator rather than a scorer.
Gakpo has many of Firmino’s attributes to succeed, and he has not disappointed so far. As for Liverpool, they would want their Dutch star to keep performing at the highest levels, and many believe he has plenty more to show on the road to success.
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Liverpool transfer news: Barcelona forward Raphinha is supposedly back on the radar of the Reds while Jürgen Klopp wants a $38m-rated Xabi Alonso favorite.
In 43 days, the January window will open and Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League clubs will be able to complete more transfers. It only feels like a few weeks since the summer and the next period for signings to be made is already almost here.
It could be a really interesting transfer window. For sides like Spurs and Aston Villa, who are further ahead in their progression than even Ange Postecoglou and Unai Emery might have dared predict, there could be a chance to push on for the Champions League places with another addition or two.
For teams at the bottom, it might be too late to get out of the relegation scrap, even with Everton’s points deduction, but that could offer the chance for those who will be middling and safe to take a bit of a gamble. Having a bit of a go without a genuine risk of going down is not often possible for the likes of Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, but it might be this time.
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For Liverpool, getting one more in could be a boost in a bid for multiple trophies, with a left-sided defender and a holding midfielder still feeling like obvious places to start searching for upgrades. Here is the Liverpool.com verdict on the transfer gossip to emerge around the Reds today.
Raphinha (Barcelona)
Liverpool is keeping tabs on the situation of former Leeds United forward Raphinha, who could be sold by Barcelona, according to Fichajes. The Brazilian is another option being put forward to eventually replace Mohamed Salah.
After signing for Barcelona for a fee of around $63m (£51m/€58m) in 2022, he played a key part for Xavi last season, contributing 22 goals and assists combined. But he has since become a more peripheral figure in the team.
Liverpool.com says: The 26-year-old remains a big talent but it would be a big ask for anyone to replace Salah, let alone someone who has not been a regular for Barcelona this season. There is a question about how many goals Raphinha is capable of scoring and Liverpool needs a real guarantee for whoever follows the Egyptian.
And then, of course, there is the simple fact that Salah should not be sold in 2024. If anything, his contract should be extended. If that happens, Raphinha would not be someone that Liverpool needed to look at.
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Xabi Alonso would like Real Madrid to sign 22-year-old right-back Jeremie Frimpong next summer if he becomes the manager there after Carlo Ancelotti, according to Depor. But Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen on the player, the same report says.
Real Madrid needs a replacement for Dani Carvajal and Frimpong, a former Celtic and Manchester City player, supposedly fits the bill. But Florentino Perez is said to be reluctant to pay more than $38m (£31m/€35m) for the Dutchman.
Liverpool.com says: At some point, it seems inevitable that Leverkusen’s team will be broken up, because that is just what happens. But Alonso is doing an incredible job and Frimpong is an important part of it. The only reason Liverpool would be in the market for a right-back is if Trent Alexander-Arnold was to move into midfield. For now, at least, that is not on the agenda.
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