Manchester City have entered the race for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, setting up a late transfer battle with Tottenham as the summer deadline approaches.
Key Highlights
- Manchester City have made contact with Cody Gakpo's camp as they explore a potential late move for the Liverpool forward.
- Tottenham Hotspur remain firmly in the race and are reportedly preparing a new bid after an initial offer worth around €60 million.
- Liverpool have no plans to sell Gakpo unless they receive a "very attractive" offer and secure a high-quality replacement.
- The transfer could trigger a wider domino effect, with Tottenham's moves for Savinho and Omar Marmoush potentially influencing City's pursuit of Gakpo.
Manchester City Enter the Gakpo Transfer Race
The race for Cody Gakpo has taken a dramatic turn in the final days of the summer transfer window, with Manchester City emerging as serious contenders for the Dutch forward.
While Tottenham Hotspur have been pursuing the 27-year-old for several weeks, City have now made their move. According to reports, Roberto De Zerbi is keen to add the versatile attacker to his forward line and views Gakpo as an important target for the upcoming campaign.
Transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano has also reported that Manchester City made contact with Gakpo's camp, signalling their interest in a potential deal. However, there has been no formal contact between the two clubs at this stage.
Tottenham Refuse to Give Up
Spurs have been monitoring Gakpo for several weeks and reportedly view him as a "serious option" to strengthen their attack. The club is also working on deals for Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush, but those negotiations have not diminished their interest in the Liverpool forward.
Despite City's late entry into the race, Tottenham remain firmly in contention and have already laid significant groundwork for a potential move. In fact, Tottenham are reportedly preparing a fresh bid after their initial proposal was estimated at around €60 million.
The battle could become even more complicated if personal terms become a factor in the negotiations. Meanwhile, Gakpo has continued to demonstrate his value to Liverpool, scoring a brilliant goal in the club's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United just this past weekend.
Liverpool Stand Firm on Gakpo's Future
Liverpool have made their position clear: they are not actively looking to sell their No. 18. The Reds would only consider Gakpo's departure if a "very attractive" offer arrives. Even then, any potential sale would depend on Liverpool securing a high-quality replacement before the transfer window closes next Tuesday.
The club has been linked with Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh as potential replacements. However, losing a player with Gakpo's experience and versatility would still represent a significant gamble as Liverpool look to compete on multiple fronts.
A Transfer Domino Effect Could Be Coming
The Gakpo situation could also be connected to a much bigger transfer chain involving Tottenham and Manchester City. If Spurs complete their moves for Savinho and Omar Marmoush, it could potentially create room for City to pursue Gakpo as a direct replacement.
That would set off a transfer domino effect, with one deal potentially triggering another across the Premier League. With the 11pm Tuesday deadline approaching, the pressure is only expected to increase.
For Liverpool, the priority will be keeping hold of Gakpo, who remains an important part of the team's attacking options. For Manchester City and Tottenham, however, the race for the Dutchman could be one of the biggest stories of the final hours of the summer window.
