Liverpool star Cody Gakpo will be out to dent Newcastle United’s Carabao Cup ambitions this weekend. However, the Reds forward could have been lining up at Wembley in the black and white of the Magpies had he made the move to St. James’ Park back in 2020.
This Sunday will see Newcastle given a golden chance to end their 70-year long wait for a trophy when they face off against Liverpool at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
Arne Slot’s side are entering the final as favourites. This is especially the case with Newcastle stars Anthony Gordon, Lewis Hall and Sven Botman out of the squad on Sunday.
Had events turned out differently five years ago, Gakpo could have been been a key player lining up under Eddie Howe against Liverpool.
In January 2020, during the winter transfer window, Foot Mercato reported that Newcastle, under manager Steve Bruce and former Magpies owner Mike Ashley, were on the list of clubs interested in Gakpo.
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The then-PSV forward was attracting the attention of a number of Europe’s top clubs but Newcastle would not swoop in with the fee to cover the Dutchman’s price tag. His bargain asking price was nowhere near the £35m that Liverpool spent on Gakpo, instead, it would have cost the Magpies just £8.5m according to reports.
Despite the reported interest from Newcastle, sources close to the Dutchman told Chronicle Live that Gakpo had no interest in a move to Tyneside. He would instead spend the next three-years in the Netherlands scoring 55 goals in 159 appearances for PSV and, after impressing internationally, moved to Merseyside in January 2023 having also turned down a move to Leeds United.
Gakpo has suffered with minor injuries lately, but Slot has said that ‘he will be in the squad’ for the cup final after missing Liverpool’s weekend victory over Southampton.
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