FORMER Saints target Cody Gakpo revealed he left his future up to how many goals he scored in a transfer deadline fixture.

Gakpo, 25, made a £40million transfer to Liverpool in January 2023 after starring with three goals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

However, just months prior at the end of the summer transfer window in 2022, Gakpo was on the verge of joining either Saints or Leeds United.

Both Premier League clubs had agreed deals in principle with Dutch outfit PSV but Gakpo had to decide on his own future.

In ESPN Netherlands, Gakpo has revealed: "You have a difficult decision to make.

Daily Echo: Cody Gakpo has won the EFL Cup with the Anfield outfitCody Gakpo has won the EFL Cup with the Anfield outfit (Image: PA)

"And then you go to prayer to talk to God and ask for wisdom. I got that. I presented the three options I had to God.

“People might think I'm strange. I could go to Southampton, Leeds came into the race and PSV wanted me to stay.

"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.”

On August 31, 2022, the day before deadline day, captain Gakpo lines up for an Eredivisie match to face FC Volendam.

PSV win 7-1 and Gakpo scored a hattrick in controversial circumstances, after netting his first two goals by half-time.

Just after the break, with Leeds United's technical director landing in the country in an attempt to finalise a deal, he scores again.

A shot at goal takes off into the net via a deflection off defender Damon Morani - with VAR determining the goal would be Gakpo's.

In a documentary, his teammate and best pal Jordan Teze is seen to say: “Maybe it will still be your goal.

"Now it is truly in God's hands. So if God wants you to stay, you will get that goal."

Gakpo went on to reject a move to the Premier League, staying at PSV until the January window - when his stock had risen even further.

Both Saints and Leeds went on to suffer relegation from the top flight at the end of that season.

Gakpo, meanwhile, who is set to line up for the Netherlands at the European Championships, has 23 goals in 79 appearances for Liverpool.