Tottenham Hotspur have joined Manchester City in monitoring the availability of Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo ahead of this season’s transfer window closing.
The Dutch international found the net for the Reds during their opening league fixture of the campaign against Newcastle United. Alongside Alexander Isak, the 27-year-old was one of just two attacking players to last the full duration of the encounter at St James’ Park, which marked Andoni Iraola’s debut in competitive charge of the Magpies.
Gakpo committed his future to Anfield approximately a year ago by putting pen to paper on a five-year extension. His existing agreement with the Merseyside club remains valid until the summer of 2030.
Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano has corroborated claims made by Mounir Boualin regarding City’s surveillance of the Netherlands international. According to the report, the Etihad Stadium side have communicated their admiration directly to the player himself, though they have yet to approach Liverpool with a formal proposal. It is understood the club are considering doing so.
This contact occurred on the same day, according to Romano, with discussions now having commenced. Tottenham, however, are said to have agreed personal terms with Gakpo since July.
Negotiations are reportedly progressing with both suitors, and the competition is described as intensifying. Liverpool’s position is understood to be that they will only part with the player this summer if they recruit two wide forwards before the transfer window slams shut.
Iraola highlighted the requirement for wide players during his pre-match media briefing on Friday. He acknowledged the situation was evident, particularly on the flanks where specific personnel were lacking. He suggested remaining flexible about other areas to identify opportunities to genuinely strengthen the squad rather than simply filling positions. He emphasised having quality players already and that improvement required a certain calibre of individual.
Regarding Gakpo specifically, Iraola noted the forward had been performing excellently and training superbly since his arrival, quickly grasping the tactical requirements of his role. He observed that conversations with the player revealed a strong understanding of the game and intelligence. Gakpo had been among their standout performers in pre-season fixtures, though Iraola would not reveal his team selection plans as players had not yet been informed.