With Dutch forward Cody Gakpo now set to join Liverpool after being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United, Red Devils boss Erik ten Hag has commented on the situation.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the Reds have reached an agreement to sign the 23-year-old from PSV Eindhoven ahead of the January transfer window.
Read: Ten Hag confirms Man Utd's January transfer plan
The Netherlands international will sign a six-year contract at Anfield in a deal worth between £35 million (R724 million) and £45 million (R930 million), according to Sky Sports.
While a transfer to a top club in Europe was widely expected for the marksman after he impressed at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, it has since surprised many that he is set to join Liverpool instead of United, who were linked with the striker in the previous transfer window.
Following Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's departure from Old Trafford last month, Ten Hag recently stressed the importance of finding a striker in January, and it was believed that Gakpo was the tactician's desired replacement for the veteran talisman.
"We are aware we lost a striker, so I think we have to get a striker in, but it has to be the right one," he said earlier this week, as per Sky Sports.
With a move for Gakpo now off the cards, the former Ajax Amsterdam manager was asked to share his thoughts on his young compatriot's move to Merseyside instead.
"I don't talk about individual cases," he told Amazon Prime Video Sport when asked about losing out on Gakpo after the Red Devils' convincing 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
"We are looking for offensive players, looking for a striker, that would be good because we have so many games coming.
"We want to keep playing in all the competitions we are in, we want to keep going to the end of the season so you need numbers to keep competing."
Read: Brazil to hijack Portugal's move for Mourinho?
United are now believed to be exploring the loan market as they lack the funds to make a big-money signing in January, according to Manchester Evening News, and have been linked with several forwards, including Joao Felix, Memphis Depay, and Goncalo Ramos, in recent days.
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