Cody Gakpo has revealed that his favoured role is now a centre forward after being utilised there by Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
The Dutch international was signed by the Reds in January for a reported £35.4m and struggled in his first few games in the Premier League while being played out on the left flank. After being moved into a centre forward role, however, Gakpo started to really find his feat at Anfield and was able to finish the season with a respectable tally of seven Premier League goals.
Speaking ahead of his participation in the Nations League finals with the Netherlands this week, Gakpo has revealed his fondness for his new position and admitted he'd be keen to play in the striker role for the Dutch national team too.
"Now that I'm playing at Liverpool I think it's a nice position," he told the media. "I have become convinced that being a striker suits me.
READ THE LATEST LIVERPOOL NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP
"Guus Hiddink was the first [to use Gakpo as a striker]. He spent a while at PSV as a sounding board, saw me play and said: 'You have to become a striker or a false nine'. I didn't want to believe it then. And then when Roger Schmidt said the same thing later at PSV when he was coach, I was even more stubborn. It felt good on the left flank.
"But at the last World Cup I was already more central on the field and at Liverpool permanently in the past six months. It's been good. I'm excited now to get better in the position in the near future, for the club as well as the national team."
Gakpo may get his chance to play as a number nine for the national team during their clash with Croatia on Wednesday due to Memphis Depay's injury. The Atletico Madrid forward is currently out of action with a thigh injury.
LISTEN NOW
On this week's edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey to discuss Ange Postecoglou's appointment at Spurs, Man Utd chasing Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Kane to Real Madrid, Lionel Messi & more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
This article was originally published on 90min as Cody Gakpo reveals new favourite position after Liverpool role change.
