Cody Gakpo Transfer Update: Liverpool's Stance Hardens
Cody Gakpo’s chances of swapping Liverpool for Tottenham Hotspur have taken a hit, with a leading transfer reporter pouring cold water on a move that had looked increasingly realistic in recent days. Tottenham, though, are still pushing hard for Manchester City winger Savinho as their wide-forward rebuild gathers pace.
Gakpo deal stalls as Liverpool stance hardens
Tottenham have been circling Gakpo for weeks. The plan was clear: prise the Dutchman from Anfield, hand Roberto De Zerbi another versatile attacking threat, and allow Liverpool to cash in so they could chase Paris Saint-Germain pair Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye in a potential £155million double swoop.
TEAMtalk reported on Saturday that Spurs had already done the legwork on the player side, agreeing personal terms with Gakpo and receiving word from the forward that he wanted to leave Liverpool. An opening £60m bid was being lined up.
Then came the twist.
Alex Crook of talkSPORT has since pushed back strongly on the idea that a deal is close. Speaking to Last Word on Spurs, Crook revealed that Liverpool sources view Gakpo very differently to how the London club might have hoped.
“I don’t think it will happen,” he said. “Speaking to sources at Liverpool they think he’s had a good pre-season under Iraola, they think he’s a player that Iraola can get the best out of.
“I think he probably would be open to the move, but at the moment that’s not one I expect to happen between now and deadline day.”
Those comments cut across earlier claims from CaughtOffside that exits for both Gakpo and Curtis Jones were “getting closer”. Instead, Liverpool appear ready to back their new manager and keep Gakpo at the heart of his plans, at least for this window.
For De Zerbi, who has made Gakpo a priority target, that represents a major complication. The Italian wants the Dutchman and Savinho to spearhead his next evolution of Spurs’ attack. He may now have to compromise.
Spurs turn the screw on Savinho pursuit
If Gakpo proves out of reach, Savinho becomes even more important.
The Times report that Tottenham remain locked in talks with Manchester City over the Brazilian, having failed to land him last summer. City are willing to sell despite handing the 22-year-old a new contract in October, a sign of both his rising value and their willingness to cash in at the right price.
The Daily Mail claimed in July that Spurs were on the verge of finally getting the deal done for around £65m. That figure is no longer enough. According to The Times, City are now holding out for £85m, a hefty jump that forces Tottenham back to the negotiating table.
It is a serious fee, even in this market. But Spurs have already shown this window that they are prepared to stretch. Record-breaking deals for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have underlined the club’s intent to arm De Zerbi with elite-level talent rather than stopgap solutions.
Personal terms with Savinho are already agreed. The player is on board. The structure is there. All that remains is for Spurs to decide how far they are willing to go to meet City’s valuation and whether they are ready to commit another huge outlay on a wide forward with the deadline looming.
One thing is clear: if Gakpo is slipping away, Tottenham can scarcely afford to let Savinho follow.
