Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has said he believes Cody Gakpo may have made the move to Liverpool too early in his career.
The forward was signed for £37m from PSV Eindhoven during the January transfer window following some eye-catching FIFA World Cup performances in Qatar, but Gakpo has failed to live up to expectations thus far.
The 23-year-old is yet to score for the Reds and has not even won a game with his new club despite making six appearances.
Speaking on Andy van der Meyde's YouTube show, the new Netherlands coach Koeman - who took over after the World Cup - stated that the move to Liverpool perhaps came too soon for Gakpo:
"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 and not playing. Then that is difficult.
"You can see that, that he [Gakpo] 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's was someone aged 28 with experience, it would be different."
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Source : 90min