Netherlands striker Cody Gakbo revealed that his compatriot Virgil van Dyck, Liverpool defender, convinced him to join the rival club in the English Premier League.
Liverpool signed Gakpo, who scored three goals in the World Cup in Qatar before the Netherlands were knocked out in the quarter-finals by champions Argentina, on Wednesday from Eindhoven for 37 million pounds ($44.56 million) initially, according to press reports.
British media speculated that Manchester United were chasing Gakpo before Liverpool clinched the deal.
Gakbo pointed to Van Dyck’s role in making the decision to move to Anfield.
He told the Liverpool website: He told me that this was the right step for me to develop and become a better player, and that the club is really big, huge and like a real family.
He added: I think it is a very important step for me because I am connected to the family. (Van Dyck) said only good things and I am happy to be here, he can help me with some things.
The deal will be officially completed at the beginning of January and he can play his first match once morest Brentford on the second day of the new year.
Liverpool, sixth in the league with 25 points from 15 matches, meets Leicester City on Friday.
