Manchester United are ramping up the gas on the surge towards the signature of one of their most desired transfer targets, with the opening of the winter window less than one week away.

Following a report from The Mirror, United boss Erik ten Hag has opened talks with PSV Eindhoven regarding the prospective transfer of Cody Gakpo, who has been the subject of intense speculation over the course of 2022.

In the summer, Gakpo revealed to The Times that he had held talks with the Red Devils over a move, which failed to materialise, while the likes of Leeds United and Southampton also failed in their pursuit of the phenom.

And earlier this month, The Sun claimed that Ten Hag was preparing an offer for the star once again, with January the target to lure him to Old Trafford. 

United’s own Salah

Having played a starring role at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring three goals for the Netherlands and flourishing as his side reached the quarter-finals, agonisingly losing on penalties to eventual champions Argentina.

PSV have previously issued demands of a €50m (£44m) deal in order to let their most coveted star depart, but The Mirror’s report continues to state that financial concerns could mean that a cheaper offer might now be enough to prise him away from their clutches. 

United, who appear to be in pole position for Gakpo’s signature, must throw the kitchen sink at a deal, with his elite offensive level and innate knack for contributing with goals and assists in abundance two factors that allude to prosperous fortunes, wherever his career path takes him.

For PSV this term, the “sensation” - as dubbed by journalist Tom Allnutt - has scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists from only 24 outings, indeed reaffirming his world-class credentials with his exploits with his nation this month.

Given the calibre of the signing, and the time in Ten Hag’s United tenure that it coincides with, this could be a deal to emulate that of Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, who has emerged as one of football’s most devastating forces under Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Salah, arriving from AS Roma for £34.3m in 2017, has played an integral role in his club’s ascension over the last several years.

He has won a host of major honours including the Premier League and the Champions League, while earning a multitude of individual honours and basking in a record-breaking Premier League goalscoring season in 2017/18 - with his 32 strikes that term now seeing him sit third behind Andy Cole and Alan Shearer's efforts of 34 apiece.

With green pastures within touching distance for United, who appear to be at the beginning of what could be a glorious resurgence themselves, Gakpo, who Fabrizio Romano heralded for having something special”, could stand as the hallmark for success, and it is crucial that the Red Devils are the team to land his signature.

His impact upon English football, just like Salah's, could be devastating.