Tottenham Reportedly Reach Cody Gakpo Agreement as Liverpool Weigh Bradley Barcola Move
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly making significant progress in their pursuit of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, with the Dutch international said to have reached an agreement over personal terms with the North London club.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are continuing their plans to reshape their attacking options following a major period of transition at Anfield. The Reds are preparing for life after Mohamed Salah, whose long and highly successful spell with the club came to an end after Liverpool confirmed earlier in the year that the Egyptian would leave at the conclusion of the season.
Salah’s departure represents a huge change for Liverpool. During his time on Merseyside, the forward established himself as one of the most influential players in the club’s modern history, helping the team compete for and win major domestic and European trophies. Finding a suitable replacement has therefore become one of Liverpool’s key priorities in the current transfer window.
The club has yet to complete a deal for a direct replacement, although Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola has reportedly become Liverpool’s leading attacking target. The Frenchman has attracted considerable attention following his impressive development at PSG, and Liverpool are believed to view him as a potential long-term addition to their forward line.
Barcola is not the only PSG attacker reportedly attracting interest from Liverpool. There has also been speculation linking the Premier League side with his young teammate Ibrahim Mbaye. Despite that interest, Barcola is understood to remain the more prominent name on Liverpool’s transfer shortlist as the club assesses its options.
At the same time, uncertainty surrounding Gakpo’s future has increased. Tottenham have reportedly maintained a strong interest in the Netherlands international throughout the summer, as new manager Roberto De Zerbi continues to oversee a major rebuilding project at the club.
According to reports from Dutch publication Voetbal International, Tottenham have taken another important step towards completing a deal for Gakpo. The report claims that the player has already agreed personal terms with Spurs. It is also suggested that Tottenham, Liverpool and Gakpo himself are all optimistic that negotiations can eventually result in a successful transfer.
If the reported agreement is accurate, the next stage would involve the two clubs reaching an understanding over the transfer fee and other conditions of the deal. Liverpool would then have to decide whether allowing Gakpo to leave makes sense as they attempt to overhaul their attack.
Gakpo has become an important member of Liverpool’s squad since arriving at Anfield. His versatility has allowed him to operate in several attacking positions, while his ability to contribute goals and assists has made him a valuable option for the team. Losing him would therefore create another vacancy in Liverpool’s forward line, particularly after Salah’s departure.
For Tottenham, signing Gakpo would represent another major statement of intent during a summer of considerable spending. Spurs have been working to strengthen their squad after an extremely difficult Premier League campaign last season, when they only narrowly avoided relegation on the final day.
The club has already invested heavily in new players. Tottenham’s reported spending on Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke has reached approximately £237 million, demonstrating the scale of the rebuilding process currently taking place in North London.
Gakpo could become another significant addition to that project. His Premier League experience, international pedigree and ability to play across the front line would give De Zerbi greater tactical flexibility. The Dutch forward could potentially operate on either wing, through the middle or in a more advanced attacking role, depending on the manager’s preferred system.
Tottenham are also reportedly interested in Manchester City winger Savinho. Spurs are expected to continue exploring a deal for the Brazilian before the transfer window closes, meaning their attacking recruitment could remain a major storyline during the final stages of the summer.
For Liverpool, however, the situation is more complicated. While the club needs to refresh its attacking options, selling Gakpo could leave the squad with even greater attacking uncertainty. The decision could ultimately depend on whether Liverpool can secure another high-quality forward before allowing the Dutchman to depart.
Barcola appears to be central to those plans. Liverpool are reportedly assessing whether to make a serious approach for the PSG winger, with the Frenchman potentially viewed as the player capable of filling some of the attacking void left by Salah.
A move for Barcola would also reflect Liverpool’s desire to invest in a younger generation of attackers. Rather than simply finding a short-term replacement for Salah, the club could be looking to build an entirely new forward line capable of competing at the highest level for many years.
The situation surrounding Gakpo could therefore have a direct impact on Liverpool’s transfer strategy. If Tottenham succeed in completing the deal, Liverpool may need to accelerate their pursuit of Barcola or explore alternative targets.
With the transfer window approaching its deadline, both clubs have important decisions to make. Tottenham are looking to strengthen an ambitious squad rebuild under De Zerbi, while Liverpool are attempting to replace one of the most productive attackers in their history and create a new-look frontline.
For now, the reported agreement between Gakpo and Tottenham represents an important development, but the transfer cannot be considered complete until Liverpool and Spurs reach an agreement over the financial terms. At the same time, Liverpool’s interest in Barcola means their own attacking plans could become increasingly active in the final days of the window.
The coming weeks should therefore provide a clearer picture of where Gakpo will play next season and whether Barcola could become Liverpool’s preferred solution to the significant attacking changes taking place at Anfield.
