Tottenham Pursue Cody Gakpo Amid Transfer Rumors
Roberto De Zerbi has wasted no time reshaping Tottenham in his own image. The defence has already been ripped up and rebuilt with three new arrivals, but his gaze has quickly shifted up the pitch. He doesn’t just want balance. He wants a statement.
Tottenham have already tested the market with a heavyweight swing. A £75million offer for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been knocked back, a clear sign that Spurs are prepared to spend big to arm their new Italian head coach with the kind of technical quality he craves in the middle of the park.
That push for control has not stopped there. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is also on their radar as they look to inject more variety and depth into midfield. Higher up the pitch, talks continue with Manchester City over Savinho, a move that underlines De Zerbi’s intention to stockpile versatile forwards capable of interchanging positions and attacking from all angles.
Now another name has entered the frame. A bigger one.
Spurs circle as Gakpo’s future opens up
Tottenham have been linked with a move for Cody Gakpo, a player who has quietly become one of Liverpool’s most reliable attacking options and is now forcing his way into the summer headlines.
At Anfield last season, the 27-year-old was almost ever-present in the Premier League. He missed only two games through injury and started 32 of his 36 league appearances under Arne Slot. Seven goals, five assists, and a goal involvement roughly every three matches tell the story of a forward who might not dominate the highlight reels every week, but consistently delivers.
On the international stage, he has gone up a level. Named in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico, Gakpo has started the tournament in sharp, ruthless form. In the 5-1 demolition of Sweden in their second group game, he scored twice and added an assist, a performance that will not have gone unnoticed in north London – or anywhere else.
Those displays carry a price. They always do.
Liverpool hold the cards – and know it
Gakpo’s situation at Liverpool is intriguing. Some reports suggest the club are open to offers this summer, but this is no bargain-bin opportunity. Liverpool paid between £35million and £45million to bring him in during the January 2023 window and, if they do decide to cash in, they will expect to at least recoup that fee and likely turn a profit.
They are in a position of strength. Gakpo signed a new contract only last summer, believed to be worth around £250,000 per week, and he still has four years remaining on that deal. That length of commitment hands Liverpool total control over any negotiation. They can wait, they can push the price up, and they can simply say no.
Every sharp touch and every goal at the World Cup only adds another layer to his valuation. For a club as shrewd in the market as Liverpool, this tournament is leverage.
Spurs interest is real – but timing is everything
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham are among the clubs exploring a deal for Gakpo. The interest is there. The question is when – and at what cost.
Romano has made it clear that Liverpool have not yet given the green light to any exit and remain very happy with the Dutchman. This is not a player being pushed towards the door; it is one whose future will be decided on Liverpool’s terms and Liverpool’s timeline.
With Gakpo in the middle of a World Cup campaign, any move is unlikely to accelerate in the coming days. The tournament creates a natural pause. Clubs watch, agents position, and executives wait for the right moment to move.
For Tottenham, that means patience. For Liverpool, it means options. For Gakpo, with his form peaking on the biggest stage, it could be the summer that defines the next phase of his career.
