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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Fabinho sends Cody Gakpo message after admitting Liverpool 'needed' £37m transfer

Fabinho admits Liverpool needed to sign a player like Cody Gakpo this month as he explained how the forward will be made welcome at his new club.

Gakpo became the latest arrival under Jurgen Klopp when he last week officially completed a move from PSV Eindhoven for an initial £37million.

The 23-year-old forward made his Reds debut when starting on the left wing in the 2-2 draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round at Anfield on Saturday.

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And with both Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota still out with long-term injuries, Fabinho has no doubt over the merit of purchasing the reigning Dutch Footballer of the Year.

"It's really important that a player of this quality arrived to help the team," said the Brazilian. "We know what he's capable of doing. He did a really good World Cup and in the Dutch league he was one of the best players.

"Now I think he wants to show he can do the same thing at this level as well, in a club like LFC. We will try to help him adapt as quick as possible and we hope he will be really helpful for us because we need a player like this."

Gakpo was given a brief break following his exploits in helping Holland reach the World Cup quarter-finals last month and had just three days training with his new team-mates before the Wolves game.

And Fabinho believes the Liverpool squad and staff at the AXA Training Centre can play their part in helping the new man settle.

"When I arrived at Liverpool, it was really important the way the people treated me," he said to liverpoolfc.com. "It was really important to have someone like Bobby (Firmino) and Alberto Moreno at that time – they really helped me to feel comfortable, to feel really at home since my first day here.

"People from the club – not just manager and players but people who work in the kitchen and everyone – were really nice with me. This will not be different with Gakpo. So, I hope he will feel the love, feel really welcome here and be ready to play."

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