Overhated LFC star on £250k/week will be crucial to Iraola's early setup - opinion

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When Liverpool signed Cody Gakpo, his potential seemed unchecked but he has failed to meet the potential many believed he had but there is still time to reach his ceiling in the Premier League. Now 27, Gakpo was 24 when he joined Liverpool and was one of the most exciting prospects in the Eredivisie and had his pick of Man Utd, Liverpool and Tottenham before ultimately choosing Anfield as his next destination.

Liverpool paid £35m to sign Gakpo, so you could argue that he’s been a success given his 50 goals and 23 assists have yielded a Premier League title and a Carabao Cup in four seasons. No, he’s not a world-class player, but if he can become more unpredictable and increase his output, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility for him to reach a truly elite level.

His £250,000/week contract only expires in 2030, so it’s not as though his value will tank – especially if he does well. Given Slot’s second season is an outlier in terms of goal contributions, there is a decent argument to be made that he could become a crucial player even if it is beyond his ability to touch world-class levels.