The World Cup is going strong and fewer and fewer teams are remaining in the deciding matches. In the meantime, scouts across the football world are looking to acquire new players. The World Cup has always been the perfect stage for youngsters or underdogs who otherwise might not have been noticed by a big market team.
For example, Cody Gakpo of PSV Eindhoven and the Netherlands is a player Manchester United look to be moving closer to signing, but it will cost them about €80 million to do so. According to the French news site Footmercato, his transfer cost is increasing with each successful performance in Qatar.
Gakpo’s valuation was €45 million in August, but since the 2022 World Cup, it has nearly quadrupled. For top sports, betting opportunities make sure you check out CasinoDaddy!
In helping the Netherlands get to the quarterfinals, where they will play Argentina, Gakpo has excelled. The 23-year-old attacker has impressed with a combination of quick pace and lightning movement, scoring three goals in games against Senegal, Ecuador, and Qatar.
After Cristiano Ronaldo left, United manager Erik ten Haag is looking for striking reinforcements and may make a move in January. While Gakpo’s performances have subsequently drawn interest from teams around Europe, other Premier League clubs are also said to be interested. Gakpo’s current contract has three years left to run.
Erik ten Hag stated that in the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contentious exit from the team, Manchester United is “looking to the future.” After voluntarily agreeing to end his contract with United in November as a result of a contentious interview conducted before to the World Cup, Ronaldo is now a free agent. The 37-year-old stated that he didn’t respect Ten Hag and felt “betrayed” by the club for how he was handled.
For the first time, Ten Hag responded to a question on Ronaldo’s departure on the club’s official website: “He’s gone and it’s the past. We are now looking forward and we’re looking to the future.”
Additionally, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated that the club’s interest in Jude Bellingham would not be “hidden” and that signing Cristiano Ronaldo would be more difficult. Make sure you check 18bet out!
Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund has been an important contributor to England’s march to the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar. Despite Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Real Madrid all keeping tabs on Bellingham, sources informed ESPN last month that Liverpool are leading the pursuit.
Al-Khelaifi expressed interest in signing the midfielder, and Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke indicated the player is free to go during the summer transfer window.
According to Marca, Real Madrid’s pursuit of Brazilian wonderkid Endrick is “in the last stretch,” with the La Liga giants on track to close a deal before the end of the year, ahead of rivals Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
Endrick, a 16-year-old attacker for Palmeiras, is not allowed to leave Brazil until he reaches 18 in 2024, but interest from a number of elite teams has made it more urgent to come to a deal. Madrid is reportedly “close to reaching a deal” to sign the player, with a transfer fee of about €60 million anticipated.
According to the publications on news media, Madrid’s move to separate themselves from a potential future deal for Erling Haaland was crucial in enabling them to outbid their competitors for Endrick, who wanted to see a clear road to being the Bernabeu’s first option.
