Liverpool star Cody Gakpo has opened up on the bizarre way in which he decided against joining Leeds and Southampton in the summer of 2022.

Gakpo, who was then at PSV, had been heavily linked with a move to English football, with Leeds and Southampton amongst the clubs that were interested in him.

The Dutchman revealed that he found it difficult to make a decision on his future. 

As Gakpo prepared to feature for PSV against Volendam on August 31, 2022, he didn't yet know where he would be playing once the transfer window shut.

However, he eventually came up with a rather unusual method of choosing what to do.

Cody Gakpo has revealed the bizarre reason he didn't sign for Leeds or Southampton

Gakpo decided that if he scored once against Volendam then he would sign for Southampton, if he scored twice he would go to Leeds and if he scored a hat-trick he would remain at Volendam.

PSV ran out 7-1 winners and as fate would have it Gakpo ended up scoring a hat-trick.

There was some uncertainty over the third goal, which took a significant deflection, but it was eventually awarded to Gakpo, who then chose to stay at PSV. 

As reported by ESPN, Gakpo said in his documentary: 'You have a difficult decision to make, and then you go to prayer to talk to God and ask for wisdom. I got that.' 

'People might think I'm strange. I could go to Southampton, Leeds came into the race and PSV wanted me to stay. I presented the three options I had to God. If I scored once, I would go to Southampton. If I scored twice I would go to Leeds and if I scored three I would stay at PSV.'

Victor Orta, then the Leeds director of football, had flown in by private jet to watch the game but was ultimately left frustrated as he was unable to sign Gakpo.  

Gakpo said that his then team-mate Jordan Teze says that it was in God's hands to decide his future amid the uncertainty over the third goal. 

Gakpo said: 'I was sitting next to one of my close friends [on the bench] Jordan Teze. He said: 'It's in God's hands if he decides it's an own goal or not.' At the end, it was [given as] my goal, so then it was three. I couldn't have got a clearer sign.' 

PSV general manager Toon Gerbrands revealed that Gakpo, a Pentecostal Christian, places huge importance in his faith.

Gerbrands said: 'He tries to place faith in the context of life, I talked to him about that and learned from that. I think he sought help in this way for the question: Where should I go ? That's typical Cody.' 

Gakpo remained at PSV until January 2023, when he signed for Liverpool.

Since joining the Reds, Gakpo has made 79 appearances and has scored 23 goals.