Man Utd 'fully expect' to sign £45m 'main target' in January and Ten Hag has a big plan for the striker

It would be 'fully expected' for Man Utd to sign PSV Eindhoven star Cody Gakpo in January after deciding against signing him this summer.

Gakpo was heavily linked with the Red Devils this summer but it was thought they would sign him or Antony from Ajax.

Erik ten Hag has enjoyed excellent relations with Antony since their time in the Eredivisie. The manager therefore preferred that United sign him rather than Gakpo.

Ajax held their ground and managed to secure £80m from Man Utd for the winger.

United remain linked with Gakpo and that's quite understandable given he's been in stunning form this season.

Gakpo has scored 13 goals and 17 assists in just 24 outings for PSV this season. He also scored three goals for the Netherlands at the World Cup.

The striker is back on United's radar as they look to sign a striker to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 37-year-old's early exit also provides United with more funds, as he would have received around £16m in wages until the summer had he stayed until then.

Gakpo was valued at £25m this summer, but his recent form has pushed his valuation up to around £45m.

That doesn't seem to deter United as earlier this month it was claimed they were in the driver's seat to sign him.

Now TEAMtalk transfer expert Graeme Bailey reports that the transfer is set to take place in January.

He also notes that Ten Hag thinks Gakpo "offers something they don't have".

"Cody Gakpo is emerging as Manchester United's main target for the new year, and the club's hierarchy have given the green light to his arrival and we expect that to happen," Bailey said to TEAMtalk.

"United have done their homework on him and he is ready for a move to the North West.

"Erik Ten Hag has wanted Gakpo since the summer, there's no denying it. And he firmly believes he's offering something they haven't - whether it's a Cristiano Ronaldo replacement , we are not sure.

"Ten Hag is clearly building something at Old Trafford and the United hierarchy believe in him. Part of that is supporting him and letting him make the decisions.

"I strongly believe this is the right path for United and we see that, as with David De Gea's decision too.

"Is Gakpo a gamble? Of course any player in the Dutch league is - we've seen that in recent years.

"For every Luis Suarez there is an Alfonso Alves, or Mateja Kezman or Davy Klaasen. But Ten Hag clearly thinks Gakpo has all the attributes to succeed in England."

Gakpo has proven in recent months that he can play anywhere for the front line.

Ten Hag is likely to consider him a potential starter so he can compete with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

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