Liverpool star Cody Gakpo reveals the BIZAR reason he chose to turn down moves to Leeds and Southampton… just six months before joining the Reds.

• Cody Gakpo has revealed why he turned down moves to Leeds and Southampton
• Gakpo chose to stay at PSV before signing for Liverpool in January 2023
• Click here to follow Mail Sport’s Euro 2024 WhatsApp channel for all the latest breaking news and updates from Germany

Liverpool star Cody Gakpo has opened up about the bizarre way he decided not to join Leeds and Southampton in the summer of 2022.

Gakpo, then at PSV, had been heavily linked with a move to English football, with Leeds and Southampton among the clubs interested in him.

The Dutchman revealed that he found it difficult to make a decision about his future.

While Gakpo was preparing to play for PSV against Volendam on 31 August 2022, he did not yet know where he would play once the transfer window closes.

However, he eventually came up with a rather unusual method of choosing what to do.

Gakpo decided that if he scored once against Volendam then he would sign for Southampton, if he scored twice he would go to Leeds and if he scored a hat-trick he would stay at Volendam.

PSV won 7-1 and as fate would have it, Gakpo ended up scoring a hat-trick.

There was some uncertainty over the third goal, which took a significant deflection, but it was eventually awarded to Gakpo, who then chose to stay at PSV.

As reported by ESPN, Gakpo said in his documentary, “You have a difficult decision to make and then you go to prayer to talk to God and ask for wisdom. I understand.’

“People might think I’m weird.” I could go to Southampton, Leeds entered the race and PSV wanted me to stay. I presented God with the three options I had. If I scored once, I’d go to Southampton. If I scored twice I would go to Leeds and if I scored three I would stay at PSV.

Victor Orta, then Leeds’ director of football, flew in by private jet to watch the match but was ultimately left frustrated as he was unable to sign Gakpo.

Gakpo said his then team-mate Jordan Teze says it was in God’s hands to decide his future amid uncertainty over the third goal.

Gakpo said: “I was sitting next to one of my close friends (on the bench), Jordan Teze. He said, “It is in God’s hands whether He decides that it is His own purpose or not.” In the end, it was (given as) my goal, so then it was three. I couldn’t have gotten a clearer sign.

PSV managing director Toon Gerbrands revealed that Gakpo, a Pentecostal Christian, places huge importance on his faith.

Gerbrands said: “He tries to put faith in the context of life, I talked to him about it and learned from it. I think he sought help in this way for the question: Where shall I go? This is typical Cody.

Gakpo stayed at PSV until January 2023 when he signed for Liverpool.

Since joining the Reds, Gakpo has made 79 appearances and scored 23 goals.