English Premier League club Liverpool announced the signing of Dutch striker Cody Jacobo from Eindhoven on Wednesday, thus overtaking Manchester United, who have been looking to sign the player.
The two clubs have not disclosed the financial details of the deal, but British media have reported that Liverpool would pay an initial sum of around $45m for the 23-year-old, who scored 3 goals in the World Cup in Qatar.
The Guardian newspaper reported that United’s Dutch manager Eric Ten Hag was interested in signing Jakpo – who scored 9 goals and made 12 games in 14 in the Dutch league before the World Cup break – before Liverpool entered the negotiations and conclude the deal.
“I think (Liverpool) are a great team for me, and I came to join them to show what I can (do) and to try and help the team achieve better moments than what has happened in past years,” Jacobo She said.
Jakpo’s joining has been a major improvement for the Liverpool side, who have lost the efforts of Colombian striker Luis Diaz to a knee injury, while Portuguese Diogo Jota has been out with a calf problem since last October ; Which caused him to miss out on the World Cup.
Jakpo led the Dutch national team’s offensive line to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but plays in the left wing position in Eindhoven.
And Ruud van Nistelrooy, former United striker and current PSV manager, seemed resigned to losing Jakob’s efforts in the January transfer window, following his impressive display this season.
“If I had to choose, I would prefer (his transfer) in the summer, but it could happen now,” said Nistelrooy earlier this month. “There will come a time when you can’t say ‘no’ … The way he showed his potential was amazing. I loved watching it.” (At the World Cup). He deserves it for the way he handles it, for how he keeps working and performing.”
In turn, the Dutch international has revealed that his compatriot Virgil van Dyck, a Liverpool defender, convinced him to join the ‘Reds’. Jakpo referred to Van Dyck’s role in making the decision to move to ‘Anfield’.
“He told me this was the right step for me to grow and become a better player, and that the club is really big, huge and like a real family,” he told the Liverpool website.
He added: “I think it’s a very important step for me because I’m connected to the family. (Van Dyck) has said only good things and I’m happy to be here. He can help me with some things.”
The deal will be officially finalized at the beginning of next January, and on the second day of the new year he will be able to play his first match against Brentford.
Liverpool, sixth in the league, with 25 points from 15 games, face Leicester City on Friday.
