• Koeman suggested that Gakpo may have joined Liverpool too soon.
• Gakpo scored 3 goals in five games to assist the Netherlands in advancing.
• Koeman believes that young Dutch players making step to higher-level leagues.

Ronald Koeman, the manager of the Netherlands, suggested that Cody Gakpo may have joined Liverpool too soon.

Gakpo scored three goals in five games to assist the Netherlands in advancing to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

He moved from PSV Eindhoven to Liverpool in January. But he hasn’t scored in six games.

“The level in England is higher than in the Netherlands, but they are also young boys, aren’t they? Like (Ryan) Gravenberch going to Bayern (Munich) and not playing. Then that is difficult,” Koeman said in a video on ex-footballer Andy van der Meyde’s YouTube channel.

Currently in command of the Netherlands for a second time, former Everton manager Koeman said that young Dutch players making the step to higher-level leagues may find it difficult to adjust.

“You can see that, that he has ended up in a team that is not doing well. Then it becomes more difficult for him, as a new signing. You are tested right away. And if you don’t score or you’re not important and you don’t win any matches, it’s very difficult, especially for a young player. If that was someone aged 28 with experience, it would be different,” he added.

The 23-year-old attacker played 14 Eredivisie games for PSV this season, contributing to 12 goals and nine himself. Earlier than joining the Merseyside club.

After the FIFA World Cup 2022 ended, Koeman succeeded Louis van Gaal.

Koeman oversaw the Dutch national team from 2018 to 2020. He had previously served as the manager of Southampton and Everton in England.

In his first spell, Koeman, a defender with 78 caps for his nation, took over for Dick Advocaat, who departed after the squad missed out on qualifying for the World Cup in Russia that year.

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