Cody Gakpo is keen to step into the centre-forward role for the Netherlands in this week’s Nations League finals — with Dutch first choice Memphis Depay ruled out — after being thrust into the position over the last months at Liverpool.
Gakpo, 24, built his reputation as a left winger at PSV Eindhoven but was switched to striker after moving to Liverpool in January.
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“Now that I’m playing at Liverpool I think it’s a nice position,” Gakpo told reporters on Sunday as the Netherlands prepared for the four-nation tournament. They face Croatia in Rotterdam on Wednesday in the first semifinal.
With Depay sidelined through injury, Gakpo is expected to lead the line for the hosts.
“I have become convinced that being a striker suits me,” said Gakpo, adding that several coaches had previously tried to convince him to make the switch, but he had resisted.
“Guus Hiddink was the first. He spent a while at PSV as a sounding board, saw me play and said: ‘You have to become a striker or a false No. 9’. 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.
