Director makes ‘agreement’ claim on £40m-rated Newcastle United, Arsenal & Liverpool target

PSV Eindhoven director of football Marcel Brands has revealed only ’10 or 12 clubs in Europe’ could afford a deal for reported Newcastle United target Cody Gakpo.

The Magpies are said to be one of a whole host of admirers of the talented forward and their interest is believed to precede his impressive performances at the World Cup Finals in Qatar. Gakpo has established himself as a key figure for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side over the last two years - but it is his performances during the current season that have captured the attention of some big-name clubs from around Europe.

Gakpo has scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists in just 24 appearances for the Eredivise side and took that momentum into the World Cup Finals by scoring three goals in five games before the Netherlands suffered a quarter-final exit at the hands of a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.

The 23-year-old will now return to his club and prepare for their return to league action when they host Sparta Rotterdam on the first Saturday of January. But how long the forward remains with PSV is open to question with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all said to be keen on a deal, with speculation suggesting it would take a bid of over £40m to persuade the Eredivise club to part company with their prize asset.

However, director of football Brands has revealed there is no agreement on a figure that would be viewed as acceptable and suggested the number of clubs that could afford to buy Gakpo would be limited given the potential demands of his club.

He told PSV supporter show Eeuwig Trouw, Brands said: “You have to be realistic. When you talk about Cody Gakpo and the price tag, how many clubs are able to buy a player of that calibre?

“You are talking about maybe 10 or 12 clubs in Europe. You have to need a player in that position and be able and willing to spend the money in January, which is normally less hectic than the summer. We have yet to see if it all happens. He has no clause or anything. And no amounts have been agreed on either. The agreements that were made were there before my time. 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.”