Cody Gakpo to Tottenham: Liverpool Exit Talks Advance as £60m Spurs Bid Looms
Cody Gakpo’s future at Liverpool is moving firmly into focus, with Graeme Bailey for TeamTalk reporting that the Netherlands international has made his stance clear and wants a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
The key development is straightforward. Gakpo has reportedly informed Liverpool that he “wants to leave the club and join Roberto De Zerbi’s Tottenham Hotspur revolution”, while his camp are said to have “already agreed personal terms in principle with Tottenham” before taking that message directly to Liverpool’s senior decision-makers.
From Liverpool’s side, there is no indication of a cut-price exit. The report states that the club “want more than £60million before they would consider allowing Gakpo to leave” and that Tottenham are “prepared to meet that valuation with their upcoming bid”. If accurate, that is the detail that shifts this from background noise into a situation worth watching closely.
Photo: IMAGO
Gakpo transfer gathers pace
Gakpo’s thinking appears rooted in his role and the competition around him. According to the report, he “does not see his long-term future at Anfield” amid a crowded forward line. With Rio Ngumoha moving ahead on the left and Alexander Isak established centrally, the feeling is that opportunities may narrow further, particularly once Hugo Ekitike returns to full availability.
That context matters. Gakpo is a high-level attacker, versatile and experienced, but elite squads evolve quickly. If a player senses that starts may become harder to secure, the appetite for a new project can accelerate.
Tottenham and Roberto De Zerbi plan
Tottenham’s interest appears serious and specific. De Zerbi has reportedly outlined how important Gakpo could be, and the player is said to be “hugely impressed by what he has heard”. Spurs value the fact that he can work off the left or through the middle, a tactical flexibility that would give De Zerbi multiple solutions across the front line.
There is also a broader market angle here. Tottenham remain keen on further attacking additions, yet Gakpo looks to be a priority target rather than a speculative option.
Liverpool transfer response taking shape
Liverpool’s own planning may prove decisive. The report adds that the club are “already moving ahead with their pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola”, and that progress there is reinforcing the sense that “Gakpo’s departure could ultimately be sanctioned”. That suggests Liverpool are not simply reacting, they are weighing succession and squad balance in parallel.
Our View
From a Liverpool supporter perspective, this feels like one of those deals that would divide opinion. Gakpo has qualities that are difficult to dismiss, composure, tactical intelligence and the ability to cover multiple roles. If he genuinely believes his future lies elsewhere, though, there is little value in forcing the issue for another season.
The bigger question is whether this is the right sale at the right time. A fee above £60m for a player who may no longer be central to the first-choice plan sounds strong business on paper. Liverpool have to be ruthless when opportunities like that emerge, especially if recruitment is already advanced elsewhere.
At the same time, supporters will want reassurance that outgoing quality is being replaced with equal or greater quality. Barcola is an exciting name, but potential and adaptation are different things. Gakpo already knows the league, the pressure and the expectations.
If this move goes through, fans will likely accept it provided the strategy is coherent. Selling a good player is understandable. Selling one without a clear upgrade lined up would be harder to defend. Right now, the most telling part of this report is that both sides seem to be moving with purpose, and that usually means something significant is developing.