Cody Gakpo admits he snubbed Chelsea and Man Utd transfers for Liverpool and reveals what Van Nistelrooy really thought
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LIVERPOOL winger Cody Gakpo has revealed that he dismissed interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea before swapping Eindhoven for Anfield last month.
Gakpo, 23, joined Liverpool in a £37million transfer from PSV at the beginning of the January transfer window.
He had originally been linked with a move to Leeds before Man Utd and Chelsea expressed an interest, but the winger recently admitted that the prospect of a move to Liverpool excited him the most.
He told : "I nearly went to Leeds in the summer but Louis van Gaal advised me that a change of team before the World Cup might be difficult so I decided not to go.
"To be honest, the speculation affected me a little bit because it was the first time it had happened to me.
"I just had to think 'forget about it, play your best and see what happens later on'.
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"Then when I heard about interest from Liverpool in the winter, I didn't think about anything else. There was also Chelsea maybe but I already had my mind made up.
"This is a good place for me to improve and develop and eventually show who I can be."
PSV manager - and former Man Utd star - Ruud van Nistelrooy has since slammed Gakpo for ignoring his transfer advice.
But the young star has since insisted that he is happy in Liverpool.
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He added: "It was just his wish I went to a big club and I think I achieved that.
"We have a good relationship and still speak some times on the phone. He tries to help me."
Gakpo has made six appearances for Liverpool so far, but he is yet to score any goals or claim any assists.