PSV director Marcel Brands has claimed that Cody Gakpo's preparations for the 2022-23 season were made "difficult" by Manchester United's interest in signing him.

The 23-year-old is believed to have attracted glances from numerous Premier League clubs after recording 21 goals and 15 assists in 47 outings across all competitions last term.

Gakpo has also started the 2022-23 campaign in strong form, scoring eight goals and setting up six more in seven Eredivisie appearances for Ruud van Nistelrooy's side.

Man United, Arsenal and Leeds United were all strongly linked with a summer swoop for Gakpo, who extended his contract with PSV until the summer of 2026 back in January.

However, the transfer window shut with Gakpo still on the books at the Philips Stadion, and Brands does not believe that the attacker ever wanted to leave the club.

Speaking to Dutch outlet ED, the PSV chief said: "Cody has had a difficult preparation with us because he has spoken with Manchester United.

"They didn't come until mid-August and didn't go through. I even think Cody wouldn't have left at the end of the transfer window, if the right amount had been offered. There has been no bid that approached the lower bound of what we agreed with Cody."

However, a recent report has claimed that Gakpo had indeed agreed personal terms with Man United, and the Netherlands international has admitted that he thought he would have been playing for the Red Devils this season.

"Manchester United had reported at the beginning of the transfer window. We were waiting for that a bit. The signals became more and more positive and at a certain point I thought it might fall in that direction," Gakpo told PSV TV.

"That option faded a bit and completely last week. We worked the whole window towards it. Until last week I thought I would go to Manchester United.

"I spoke to the national coach. I called him and asked for advice. The advice was clear: that I had to follow my gut feeling, but that a transfer before the World Cup is not really ideal for the player, because then you have to get used to something. I agreed with him.

"It was all last minute for me, because until last week I thought I was going to Manchester [United]. Then it was 'choose another club' and decide whether I wanted to go there. That is not nice for PSV and also not for me, because it felt rushed.

"In the last week it was looking at what was the right thing to do. I feel at home here, in my own city. Everyone knows how I feel here.

"But of course there are other things at play and I think you should have all the options. I did that too. In the end, PSV came up with a good offer that seemed to be the right choice."

Gakpo has totalled 52 goals and 42 assists in 148 games for PSV in all competitions since graduating from their academy, winning one Eredivisie title, one KNVB-Beker and two Johan Cruyff Shields in that time.