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Cody Gakpo has said he wants to add the Champions League to his list of winners’ medals at Liverpool after agreeing a new long-term contract with the club.
The winger put pen to paper on an extension this week, with the news confirmed on Saturday. It follows a summer in which Gakpo was linked with a move away from Anfield, but is now set to vital role under Arne Slot.
Liverpool’s forward options look a little light at the end of a summer in which Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz have been sold, and, of course, the tragic passing of Diogo Jota. Gakpo established himself as first choice on the left wing last, while, along with Mohamed Salah, he is one of just two natural and reliable wide attackers in the squad.
Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa are likely to play back-up roles this season, with neither yet to prove they can perform consistently at Premier League level. With Salah set to miss several matches over the winter months due to the African Cup of Nations, Gakpo’s status in the squad has only grown this summer.
Having provided a goal and two assists from the first two league matches of the campaign, Gakpo said he has lofty aims for the upcoming season and beyond.
“Obviously trying to win more things with the club, with the team,” the Dutchman told Liverpool’s club website. “I think we have a very good squad at the moment and we’re trying to build on something special again.
“Obviously last season we won the league, so we have to defend it with the best of our capabilities. We want to also win the Champions League and the other cups, so that’s what we are going for.
“For me personally, I think I’d like to keep on developing, so every year has to be a better year than the year before. That’s what we’re aiming for.”
Gakpo arrived at Liverpool aged 23. Now 26, and a father, the ex-PSV Eindhoven man feels he has matured during his time on Merseyside, which has not always been a straightforward journey.
Having often played as a central striker under Jurgen Klopp, Gakpo has honed his craft as a winger in the last 18 months, becoming one of the most reliable in the Premier League.
“I think this was also the moment maybe when I changed from maybe a boy to a man.” Gakpo said, when reflecting on his time so far at Liverpool. “And then [I] became a father and got a lot of responsibilities in life – not only for myself and my family and my girlfriend but also for my son. So, that changed also a lot.
“The whole environment here also helped me a lot with that change, so I appreciate everybody.
“I think I developed a lot,” he continued. “Obviously [I] played different positions as well, which eventually helped me to grow as a player, in my opinion.
“I think last season I had a very good season, we all as a team had a very good season, which also gives then a boost to stay hungry for more and to keep developing and try to win as much as possible in the years to come.”
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