Man Utd scouts 'didn't rate' Cody Gakpo despite Erik ten Hag recommendation as Benni McCarthy slams club transfer policy

Gakpo was wanted at Old Trafford by Erik ten Hag before he moved to Liverpool in January 2023. The Dutch star has gone on to win the Premier League with the Reds, while United have continued to struggle and finished last season down in 15th place in the table.

McCarthy has now lifted the lid on United's failure to sign Gakpo. The former coach, who was part of Ten Hag's staff, said he was initially seen as a perfect fit in attack for the Red Devils, but the scouting department "didn't rate" the Netherlands international and vetoed the move. McCarthy also hit out at the club's recent transfer policy after seeing a host of big-money buys fail to make any impact at Old Trafford.

He told betonlinepromocodes.com: "Cody Gakpo was the one that we wanted the most and missed out on. I think he was the first player that we sat down and discussed, and decided that he was the player who would fit in perfectly. We knew we could play him alongside Marcus Rashford, when Rashy was really on song in 2022. I think we were so close to getting him. At one stage, it was ours to lose. The agent knew Erik, and there were really good talks. The manager asked me to write up a profile for the player and to take it to the scouting department, so they knew my opinion. I watched the player, I made my case for why he would be ideal. He could play on the left, he could work as a false nine. With him and Rashford we’d have been strong down the middle and on the left. Then you had Alejandro Garnacho coming through, and we wanted to play him down the right. It would have been perfect.

"Then I was told the scouting department had watched him numerous times and they didn’t rate him. They said the stats weren’t right. For me, with my experience, I know what you need to deliver at a special club. You don’t need stats to tell you that. The naked eye gives you so much more than just stats. Obviously the club have a system, and the system won, so he joined Liverpool and won the league. People can say what they like but we tried to bring in great players that would fit. I know the manager always takes the blame, but sometimes the club needs to look at itself. Good players escaped our grasp. Erik knew what we needed."

Manchester United are currently trying to strengthen the squad again ahead of the start of the 2025-26 season. Matheus Cunha has arrived from Wolves and the Red Devils are also attempting to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.