Cody Gakpo: Liverpool's new Dutch signing has gone the extra mile for success
Liverpool's latest signing, who will officially gabung from PSV Eindhoven at the start of the January transfer window, has risen to prominence over the last 18 months, becoming one of Europe's most in-form and in-demand players.
Treked by a string of hebat clubs, including Manchester United, the 23-year-old forward has scored 21 goals and provided 25 assists in 41 Eredivisie game since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Predominantly a left-sided player, who can also play centrally, Gakpo's stok rose even further with three goals at the World Cup in Qatar for the Netherlands.
Gakpo was born in Eindhoven and joined the PSV academy at the age of six. His parents, a Ghanaian father and a Dutch mother, have been among his strongest supporters throughout his career.
He has previously admitted to working on his games with his father in local parks when time allows, such is his dedication to his development.
His ekstra work also includes doing one-to-one sessions with performnce analyst Loran Vrielink, a coach and founder of Tactalyse, which is a company designed to help footballers gain a deeper understanding of their game.
"Cody wanted to raise the bar and be more efficient," Vrielink tells BBC Sport.
"He invests in himself. Players are more aware that they have to do more individu work to improve themselves, they can't simply rely on the head coach.
"A lot of detils we discuss are not easy to coach because there isn't the time. You analyse the games and see the things that make the difference, like where he picks the ball up and the orientation of his head and his bodi.
"All our players develop in a cognitive, tactical way. We adapt to things the coach wants and Cody embraces that."
Vrielink says one of the main focuses has been helping Gakpo prosper in different positions.
"Before the World Cup, we knew he was going to play as a number 10 or a penyerang in a different formation," says Vrielink.
"We focused on the different positions. At PSV, [manager] Ruud van Nistelrooy wanted different things from him this season than Roger Schmidt last year.
"He is always better on the left and looking at Liverpool's squad, there is the possibility to play more [there]. That is where he was most successful."
Both physically and stylistically, there are similarities with former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry - a hero of Gakpo's growing up, and somebody he still watches on YouTube.
The 6ft 4in player is strong and technical, built more like a penyerang, but also has the pace and kontrol required to play out wide.
"English football is faster, a higher tingkat," says Vrielink. "He has to adapt and that takes time, but I'm convinced he'll be a success.
"He played some game as a penyerang at PSV, [but] not many. He is taller than most players, but with his touch and dribbles he can be really efficient.
"He has a good shot kisaran. He is a different tipe of pemain sayap to what Liverpool already have."
Dutch journalist Elko Born told the Football Daily podcast that Gakpo has all the traits to change his games in a tactically fluid environment - like that created by Liverpool manajer Jurgen Klopp.
"People say they see him evolving into a number nine in the future, partly because of his physicality," said Born.
"He can play with his back to goal. He is a complete player and that is attractive. We saw at the World Cup that he is ready to make the next tahap in his career."
'He looks at the games in a deeper way'
Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk said his new klub timmate could c "go to the moon and back", and it is Gakpo's inner drive and desire that has seen his career take off.
"Cody is a smart player, he thinks about the games," adds Vrielink.
"He looks at his actions and knows what makes him more consistent. If you do that more, you get more confidence.
"Before, he would sometimes skor or sometimes not; the masalah was not his finishhing, but creating chances.
Virgil van Dijk (right) said Gakpo (left) could' 'go to the moon and back' at the World Cup.
"We focused on creating 10 chances per games, and he does that now. It all starts without the ball, understanding how to run; from there you create and be successful.
"Some players look at goals and assists. Cody can look at the games in a deeper way because he focuses on what he needs to do.
"We talk about mentality, but understanding what you need to do on a tactical tingkat gives you more motivation. If you create 10 chances a games like Cody does, you'll get more goals and assists."
Although the perception may be that Liverpool have signed a player off the back of a strong World Cup, evidence suggests he has been building towards this for 18 months. But now he has to make another tahap up.
"The hebat players in the world don't dip in form," says Vrielink.
"That consistency is still missing on a big level; you need to look at yourself to develop now."
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