Sources: Man United 'confident' of signing Cody Gakpo in January as £50m+ deal brought forward
Man United are increasingly confident they can sign PSV Eindhoven sensation Cody Gakpo in January rather than wait until next summer, sources have told Football Insider.
This site revealed last Saturday that United are making progress in their bid to lure the World Cup star, 23, from the Dutch club after reaching an "agreement in principle" with the player.
United are in regular contact with Gakpo's camp and believe his performances in Qatar for Holland will make it harder for Eindhoven to keep hold of him in January.
The major stumbling block to a winter window deal is agreeing a fee with Gakpo's employers.
United tried to sign Gakpo in the summer and had a £25million bid rejected by Eindhoven, as first revealed by this site.
His price tag has now doubled as the Dutch club prepare to benefit from a World Cup 'bounce' for one of the tournament's group stage standouts.
Gakpo scored in each of his nation's first-round matches against Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar to have a haul of three goals going into the knockouts.
Nevertheless, a £50m+ fee will not put off United, who have been given a ringing endorsement of the player's talents from manager Erik ten Hag.
The versatile attacker has confirmed he spoke to the United boss on a number of occasions during the summer, as he pondered a Premier League transfer.
PSV rejected offers from multiple English clubs, with Leeds United, Everton and Southampton among the others in hot pursuit.
The forward has set his sights on a Champions League club rather than a mid-table Premier League side as his reputation continues to climb.
Gakpo is currently represented by Dutch agency SEG but it is understood he has set his sights on finding new representatives ahead of a transfer next year.
Gakpo has notched 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 games for PSV so far this season and continued that form in the World Cup.