Liverpool and Arsenal join transfer race for PSV winger Cody Gakpo, dubbed ‘one of the most promising players in Dutch football’, but face stiff competition from Bayern Munich and Barcelona

Arsenal and Liverpool are set to battle it out with Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the race for PSV winger Cody Gakpo, according to reports.

The 22-year-old is rated as one of the top young talents in the Dutch game, but has been warned against joining a European giant.

Club captain Gakpo is one of the key stars for Eredivisie title-chasing PSV and is enjoying his best campaign of his career – netting 16 goals and providing 15 assists in 37 appearances so far.

According to The Athletic, the forward has a verbal agreement to be allowed to hold talks with other clubs should an appropriate offer be put forward.

Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka’s futures at Liverpool and Arsenal remain up in the air and Serge Gnabry could be set to depart Munich, suggesting all three clubs could be in the market for a new winger in the summer transfer window.

Gakpo is valued at £35million and that fee is expected to be enough for the Eredivisie side to let their vice-captain leave.

talkSPORT was told his agent had been in contact with a number of ‘big-five English clubs’ in January, with a move in the summer now likely to happen.

However, Gakpo has been advised to not rush a move to England and to look at how the direction the careers of Donny van de Beek and Memphis Depay went after sealing big Premier League moves with Manchester United.

“Noni Madueke who plays on the other wing at PSV, the London-born winger, both of them have been very impressive. They are the highlights in that team.

“They have been sending their scouts to Holland and have been watching all the videos of him. His agent is in touch with some really big clubs in that top-five in the Premier League, he went to visit them last week.

“But Davy Klaassen and so many other players, Memphis Depay, when they left the Eredivisie early, they can’t do it. English football is another massive step up.

“I would advise Cody to not rush to the big clubs – make sure you play every week.

“He’s only got to look at Donny van de Beek to see what could happen to him.”

The Netherlands international, who has four caps for his country so far, will be hoping to impress in England in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals when PSV take on Leicester City.

However, it will be a race against time to get Gakpo fit, with the star currently nursing an ankle injury.