Gary Neville has claimed he is not concerned by Liverpool beating Manchester United to the signing of Cody Gakpo, insisting he is not the player his former club require.
Gakpo was linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window and links resurfaced in recent weeks ahead of January, suggesting Erik ten Hag could have played a key role in convincing the 23-year-old to sign for the Red Devils.
But reports emerged on Boxing Day that Liverpool had swooped in to secure the services of Gakpo, a deal that was officially announced on Wednesday evening for a fee in the region of £40million. A report later emerged suggesting Ten Hag had been left 'frustrated' after missing out on this opportunity in the market.
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This transfer came as somewhat of a surprise to many United supporters, given the need to recruit in the final third after Cristiano Ronaldo's exit, but Neville has downplayed suggestions Gakpo would have been a suitable signing for the club.
"I watched him at the World Cup two or three times, live, and I didn't think he was somebody United did need. I know a lot of Manchester United fans have been disappointed, but with Rashford, Garnacho, Sancho and Antony on the left - and you could put Martial in that as well- Jurgen Klopp said himself his [Gakpo] best position is off that left side," he told Sky Sports.
"From that point of view, I think Liverpool do need him with the injury problems they have got and I wasn’t as disappointed as a United fan that they didn't get him, having watched him in the World Cup because I thought he was very similar to the players they [Manchester United] had."
Responding in sarcastic style to Neville's remarks, Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates questioned: "Did you want him when they were in for him?"
Laughing off Cates' comments, the former United right-back joked: "Once Manchester United chose not to pursue Cody Gakpo... I mean, look, you can accumulate players and you want to buy new players all the time but Manchester United need a centre-forward and he’s not the centre-forward of the style Manchester United need at the moment."
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