The Reds have been linked with a move for the highly-rated PSV forward this summer, who credits a former Red Devil for fine-tuning his game following an impressive season in front of goal Rumored Liverpool target Johan Bakayoko has claimed that a Manchester United legend taught him to be a “killer” in front of goal amid reported interest from the Reds….READ FULL ARTICLE...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE ▶▶
The Belgium international notched 14 goals as well as 14 assists for PSV Eindhoven last season in what was a remarkable campaign for the 21-year-old, helping the Dutch side to clinch the Eredivisie title as they finished seven points clear of Arne Slot’s Feyenoord.
In total, Bakayoko has 21 goals and 19 assists in 85 appearances across all competitions for Peter Bosz’s side, but it wasn’t always so easy finding the back of the net. Prior to last season, the forward had scored just seven goals in 37 games for the Dutch champions.
Former Man United frontman Ruud van Nistelrooy coached Bakayoko during the 2022-23 campaign and despite thriving under Bosz since his arrival, the Belgian has credited the former Dutch international with completely transforming his game.
Bakayoko claims the Old Trafford legend taught him to be a “killer” and hailed him as “a legend, one of the greatest strikers of all time”. Speaking to The Athletic, he said: “He was crucial because what a lot of people don’t know is he was my coach for four years before he was coach of the first team, so I know him very well.
“I wanted to be a killer in front of the goal. I learnt a lot of little things: going deeper, the way I shoot. My shooting was bad, the angle of my shots to shoot and everything. I improved a lot of my killer instinct with him.”
Bakayoko even credits Van Nistelrooy for training him “to be in the box”, which was the former Netherlands striker’s speciality given there was one season where ever goal he scored for the Red Devils came inside the 18-yard area. In fact, only one of Van Nistelrooy’s 150 goals for Man United came from outside the box.
“I used to stay wide, receive the ball and dribble,” says Bakayoko. “But he (Van Nistelrooy) told me, ‘If you want to score more goals, you need to be inside the box’.” Last season, the winger recorded the Eredivisie’s sixth-highest number of touches in the opposition box (193).
His performances meant he solidified his place in Domenico Tedesco’s own Red Devils squad for Euro 2024, although Bakayoko featured just twice from the bench as his nation crashed out in the last 16. Nonetheless, he remains one of Belgium’s brightest prospects.
Now, Bakayoko is being strongly linked with a move away from PSV this summer, with the Reds one of several clubs interested in his signature. The young forward has since claimed he is “ready for the top” whilst also adding “PSV is also a top club”.
“If I were to leave Eindhoven, it would only be to a club that plays for the prizes just like PSV,” Bakayoko told Eindhovens Dagblad. “Becoming a champion is what I want. And win the Champions League. I have the qualities for that. I’m ready for the top. But PSV is also a top club, especially if many players from last season stay. And it’s nice here….READ FULL ARTICLE
