Tottenham Reportedly Reach Agreement With Cody Gakpo as Liverpool Weigh Bradley Barcola Move

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly closing in on an agreement with Cody Gakpo, with the Liverpool forward understood to have reached an understanding over personal terms regarding a potential move to north London. The Dutch international has been linked with a departure from Anfield amid a major period of change at Liverpool, who are preparing for a new chapter in their attacking department.

Liverpool have already experienced a significant transformation this summer. The club previously confirmed that Mohamed Salah would leave Merseyside after bringing an end to an extraordinary spell with the Reds. Salah established himself as one of the most influential players in Liverpool’s modern history, playing a central role in the club’s success under Jurgen Klopp and later Arne Slot. His departure was therefore always expected to leave a major gap in Liverpool’s forward line.

The situation at Anfield has become even more interesting following a change in the managerial position. Arne Slot, who took charge of Liverpool after replacing Klopp, is no longer in the dugout. The club have instead appointed Andoni Iraola as their new head coach as part of a broader restructuring of the team.

With Salah no longer part of the squad and a new manager taking charge, Liverpool are expected to make significant changes to their attacking options. The club have been examining several potential targets, but they have not yet completed the signing of a direct replacement for Salah.

One of the players who has attracted particularly strong interest is Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. The France international has emerged as a leading candidate on Liverpool’s recruitment shortlist, with the Premier League club believed to be exploring the possibility of bringing him to Anfield.

Barcola’s pace, technical ability and versatility make him an attractive option for Liverpool as they attempt to rebuild their forward line. The 23-year-old is capable of operating from either flank and has developed into an important attacking player for PSG. His ability to take on defenders and contribute goals and assists has reportedly made him one of Liverpool’s preferred targets.

However, Liverpool’s interest in PSG’s attacking talent may not be limited to Barcola. There has also been speculation linking the Reds with Ibrahim Mbaye, another young attacking player associated with the French champions. Although Barcola appears to be the more prominent name in Liverpool’s plans at present, the club are understood to be keeping an eye on several options as they assess how best to reshape their attack.

At the same time, attention has turned to Gakpo and the possibility of him leaving Liverpool. Tottenham have reportedly maintained an interest in the Netherlands international for much of the summer. Their pursuit of the forward comes as Spurs continue to make substantial changes to their squad under Roberto De Zerbi.

Tottenham are themselves in the middle of a rebuilding process. The club are looking to strengthen their squad and establish a new identity under De Zerbi, who is expected to oversee a number of changes during the transfer window. Bringing in an experienced and versatile attacker such as Gakpo would represent a significant addition to their plans.

Gakpo has been an important member of Liverpool’s squad since arriving at Anfield. The Dutch forward joined the club from PSV Eindhoven and has demonstrated his ability to play in several attacking positions. While he has frequently been deployed as a centre-forward, he can also operate from the left wing or in a deeper attacking role.

That versatility could be one of the reasons Tottenham are so keen to secure his services. De Zerbi would be able to use Gakpo in different tactical roles depending on the opposition and the needs of the team. His physical presence, movement and ability to contribute in front of goal could also provide Tottenham with another dimension in attack.

Reports suggesting that Gakpo has already agreed personal terms with Tottenham could represent an important development in the transfer story. However, an agreement between a player and a potential new club does not necessarily mean that a transfer has been completed. Liverpool would still need to agree on the financial and contractual aspects of any deal before Gakpo could officially make the move to Tottenham.

Liverpool’s position will therefore be closely watched. The club must decide whether Gakpo remains part of their plans under Iraola or whether they are prepared to allow him to leave as they continue their attacking overhaul.

If Gakpo does depart, Liverpool could have even greater motivation to accelerate their pursuit of Barcola. Losing both Salah and potentially Gakpo would leave Liverpool without two familiar attacking options, meaning the club would need to bring in sufficient quality to maintain their competitiveness.

Barcola could potentially fill part of that void. His profile is different from Gakpo’s, but his speed and ability to play wide could make him particularly useful in a Liverpool system that relies heavily on attacking transitions and one-on-one situations. His performances for PSG have also strengthened his reputation as one of the emerging talents in European football.

Nevertheless, securing Barcola could prove difficult. PSG are unlikely to be eager to lose a young player who has become increasingly important to their squad. Liverpool may therefore have to make a substantial financial commitment if they want to convince the French club to negotiate.

The situation involving Gakpo could consequently have an indirect impact on Liverpool’s pursuit of Barcola. Should Tottenham complete a deal for the Dutchman, Liverpool would potentially have additional funds and squad space to pursue their preferred attacking targets. On the other hand, if Gakpo remains at Anfield, Iraola may decide that he can still play a significant role in Liverpool’s new-look attack.

For Tottenham, signing Gakpo would provide a statement of intent as De Zerbi continues to reshape the squad. The forward has Premier League experience and has already competed at the highest level in European football, making him a relatively proven option compared with younger and less experienced targets.

The coming weeks could therefore prove decisive for both clubs. Tottenham are pushing ahead with their efforts to bring Gakpo to north London, while Liverpool are assessing their options as they attempt to replace key attacking players and build around Iraola’s vision.

With Barcola reportedly at the top of Liverpool’s shortlist and further speculation surrounding Ibrahim Mbaye, the Reds appear to have several avenues available to them. Meanwhile, Gakpo’s potential move to Tottenham could become one of the major transfer developments of the summer.

Ultimately, much will depend on Liverpool’s final decision regarding Gakpo and how aggressively they choose to pursue Barcola. If the Dutchman leaves, Liverpool could be forced to move quickly in the transfer market. Tottenham, meanwhile, will hope that an agreement over personal terms can be followed by a full agreement with Liverpool, allowing Gakpo to begin the next chapter of his career in north London.