It remains to be seen what will happen with Cody Gakpo at Liverpool beyond the summer transfer window, with another bold update now emerging.
Over the weekend, journalist Graeme Bailey continued to talk up a move to Tottenham for the Dutchman, as has been mooted for a number of weeks now:
“We understand Gakpo’s representatives have already agreed personal terms in principle with Tottenham and have now taken the next step by speaking directly with Liverpool’s hierarchy to make the player’s position clear. Gakpo has told the club that he does not see his long-term future at Anfield and wants the opportunity to move to Spurs.”
But now, speaking to Football Insider, fellow journalist Pete O’Rourke says the likelihood is that Gakpo will remain a Liverpool player this season:
“They’ve not been getting a lot of encouragement from Liverpool that they’d be willing to sell. Spurs will be hoping that might change if Liverpool bring in their own attacking reinforcements. But as things stand right now, I don’t think Liverpool can afford to let Gakpo go, because they’re going to need him this season.
“Unless Liverpool bring in more players, I don’t think Andoni Iraola will be looking to leave his squad short by offloading somebody like Gakpo, so there are lots of hurdles for this one to overcome for Spurs to have any chance of landing Gakpo before the window closes.”
Is Cody Gakpo staying the best outcome for Liverpool?
It still feels hard to predict the outcome of his saga, but Gakpo showed in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Como at Anfield on Sunday why he is worth persevering with, scoring and assisting.
While losing him wouldn’t be a disaster, he has the tools to be an excellent squad player still, with Jurgen Klopp once describing him as “incredibly smart” when they worked together.
Liverpool already feel light in wide attacking areas, so unless they have two wingers lined up, selling Gakpo would feel like a needless risk so close to the start of the Premier League season.
Hopefully, both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye arrive from Paris Saint-Germain this week, but even if they do, it would still be nice to have Gakpo around.
