PSV Eindhoven director Marcel Brands has revealed his club were powerless to prevent Cody Gakpo from joining Liverpool.
Liverpool completed the signing of Gakpo from PSV at the start of the winter window after bringing forward their transfer plans to fend off rival interest from the likes of Manchester United for the Netherlands international.
The versatile forward, who had been a target for the United manager, Erik ten Hag, signed a five-and-a-half year contract with the Reds and cost an initial €40m (£35m). However, the total fee could rise to €50m.
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Gakpo has scored four goals since arriving on Merseyside, including two in the recent 7-0 drubbing of United at Anfield. And speaking about the transfer, Brands admitted that from a financial and player point of view, there was no way his club could stand in the way of Gakpo leaving midway through the season.
“Of course, it was a financial issue,” the former Everton director of football told BNR’s The Friday Move podcast.
“But on the other hand, you also have to be realistic. If Liverpool come for Gakpo and promises have been made, you can’t stop that.”
Reflecting on his move to Liverpool last month, Gakpo said: “I heard about Liverpool ’s interest - and I think five days later the deal was done.
“My manager and brother knew about it for a longer time, but I said to them at the World Cup not to tell me anything because I have to focus. As soon as I heard about the interest, the feeling was ‘come on, let's go.’
“You have a second Christmas Day? Boxing Day, right? I was with the family - including nieces and aunties - and I was getting calls all the time about Liverpool.
“But on Christmas Day, I was not on my phone. That is a very important day so the phone was away. It was the very next day that it happened.”
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