Dutch star admits he wanted Man Utd transfer

PSV Eindhoven attacker Cody Gakpo has admitted that he wanted to join Manchester United during the summer transfer window.

The 23-year-old was heavily linked with the Red Devils in the back end of the transfer window, but they eventually signed Antony from Ajax.

After spending a hefty £85 million on the Brazilian, the club were not in a position to negotiate the potential transfer of Gakpo from PSV.

Gakpo has now acknowledged that he was anticipating a switch to United.

He told PSV TV: "Manchester United had reported at the beginning of the transfer window. We were waiting for that a bit." 

"The signals became more and more positive and at a certain point I thought it might fall in that direction.

"That option faded a bit and completely last week.

"We worked the whole window towards it. Until last week I thought I would go to Manchester United."

Gakpo was linked with both Leeds United and Southampton before the transfer deadline, and the former were favourites to sign him.

However, he was convinced to stay by manager Ruud van Nisterooy with a World Cup coming up. Gakpo could now leave PSV in January.