'I knew': Cody Gakpo explains why he was not initially excited when he heard of interest from Liverpool in 2022

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Cody Gakpo moved to Liverpool in 2023, and the rest is history, even if he did have one worry.The former PSV star arrived on Merseyside for £35 million following interest from other clubs; the Reds beat out the likes of Manchester United to gain the signature of the talented forward.During Jurgen Klopp’s tenure, he was rotated alongside Luis Diaz and even had stints in a more central position before locking down the left-hand side this season following the Colombian’s departure.Gakpo continues to be a dependable player for new manager Arne Slot, especially after his Premier League-winning debut season, and has shone when given his many starts.So far this season, he has made four goal contributions despite some poor team performances and has at least been more consistent than many in the squad.Photo by Roy Lazet/Soccrates/Getty ImagesCody Gakpo thought the Liverpool deal would fall throughEven though he has now been with the club for two years, in 2022, before his deal was signed, the star was worried that it was not going to happen.The Dutchman had interest from United, but his then club did not believe the money the Manchester club was willing to pay was enough, so the deal fell through.READ MORE: Liverpool star Cody Gakpo achieves rare Netherlands feat and sends clear message to Arne SlotFollowing this, Liverpool then swooped in to bring the star to Anfield, something which many fans will be thankful for.Speaking in a recent interview for Discovery Plus, Gakpo reflected on the moment he found out about the Reds’ interest and why he felt it was not going to come to fruition.He said: “I was in Dubai and my brother and my agent called me. They said there was serious interest from Liverpool, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, amazing, that’s good’.

But I didn’t want to jump through the roof because the last time a club came, it collapsed. So I stayed one more day in Dubai and had to come home for Christmas.“It went pretty fast, but I knew it was the right move because I was calm on the inside, that was a sign from God that it was the right move.”Cody Gakpo’s Man of the Match performance for the Netherlands proves he needs a bigger Liverpool roleGakpo is already a brilliant and consistent player for the Reds, but in Slot’s team, he should definitely have a bigger role following his Netherlands performance.The winger netted a brace, albeit from the penalty spot, and assisted a goal against Malta, and showed why he is an important player for any team.It proves that when given a bigger starring role, he can really shine, and if he finds a better relationship with Milos Kerkez on the left, it will be a force in the league.Fortunately, he has the left-hand side locked down, but Hugo Ekitike’s undeniable performances for France mean there is a potential he will start on that side.However, before that happens, he can continue to prove to Slot the exact reason he is in the position that he is.