Manchester City Sound Out Cody Gakpo’s Camp as Tottenham Maintain Interest

Manchester City have joined Tottenham Hotspur in making contact with representatives of Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, adding an unexpected dimension to the summer market for the Netherlands international. Liverpool have yet to receive a formal bid from either club and are not actively seeking to sell a player who remains central to their attacking options, yet the dual interest ensures Gakpo’s future will be monitored closely through the remainder of the window.

Gakpo’s value was underlined again in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Newcastle United, where he ranked among Liverpool’s more effective forward contributors. He is under a relatively new contract and is regarded inside Anfield as one of the squad’s more reliable sources of goals and creative threat from wide and central areas. Any sale would therefore demand a substantial fee and, crucially, would only be contemplated if the club had already secured adequate replacements.

Liverpool’s Stance: Strengthen, Don’t Weaken

The Reds’ priority this summer is to add attacking quality rather than subtract it. Work continues on potential deals for Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain and Yankuba Minteh of Brighton & Hove Albion. Even if both targets were secured, there would be no automatic decision to cash in on Gakpo; new signings require time to adapt, and Liverpool’s hierarchy are wary of creating a short-term shortage in a department that must deliver immediately under Andoni Iraola. Club sources indicate that Gakpo is open to hearing about a new challenge but is not expected to agitate for a departure or refuse to play.

That combination—contractual security, on-pitch importance, and a cooperative attitude—gives Liverpool a position of strength. Clubs interested in the player must either meet a high valuation or wait for a change in circumstances that does not currently appear imminent.

Tottenham’s Prolonged Pursuit

Tottenham’s admiration for Gakpo is not new. Roberto de Zerbi has identified the forward as a target throughout the summer, viewing his profile as compatible with the movement, pressing and positional flexibility he demands. Spurs have already strengthened their attacking unit with the £85 million capture of Savinho from Manchester City and are expected to add Omar Marmoush, initially on loan. Those arrivals might have been expected to close the door on further forward business; instead, the continued dialogue around Gakpo suggests de Zerbi still sees a specific role the Dutchman could fill.

Tottenham have also weighed alternative profiles. Jack Grealish has been considered, though he is presently expected to remain where he is. The club’s willingness to explore multiple options reflects both the difficulty of extracting Gakpo from Anfield and the manager’s desire for versatile attackers who can operate across the front line.

City’s Surprise Entry

Manchester City’s involvement is more unexpected. The champions have agreed a £34 million deal for Brazilian youngster Allan Elias from Palmeiras, a signing aimed at longer-term development. At senior level, however, the departure of Marmoush has left a need for a versatile forward capable of contributing across multiple positions. City have examined more traditional wide options, including Chelsea’s Pedro Neto, only to find the £100 million asking price prohibitive. In that context, an enquiry about Gakpo’s availability represents a pragmatic exploration of the market rather than a declaration of intent to meet any price.

City’s interest also illustrates how quickly squad needs shift. Losing a useful attacker mid-window can force clubs to revisit names they had previously filed under “difficult to obtain.” Whether that interest hardens into a formal offer will depend on Liverpool’s valuation, Gakpo’s own preference, and City’s assessment of alternative targets.

Valuation and Timing

No figures have been publicly attached to a potential Gakpo transfer, yet the surrounding conditions point toward a high threshold. A player of his age, international standing, contractual situation and proven Premier League output would command a premium, especially from a selling club that does not need to cash in. Liverpool’s simultaneous pursuit of Barcola and Minteh shows they are trying to add depth and competition; it does not show they are preparing a fire sale.

Timing further complicates matters. With the window advancing, any club serious about Gakpo must move with clarity. Liverpool can afford to wait for an offer that changes their calculation; Tottenham and City must decide whether stretching for one more forward is preferable to closing the window with existing resources.

Player Profile and Fit

Gakpo’s appeal lies in his versatility. Comfortable on either flank or in more central attacking positions, he combines goal threat with the ability to link play and press from the front. Those traits suit managers who ask forwards to occupy multiple zones within a single match. De Zerbi’s Tottenham and a City side adjusting to life after key departures could both accommodate such a profile. Liverpool, having already integrated him into their own evolving system under Iraola, remain best placed to extract his peak value on the pitch rather than in the transfer market.

An Open but Quiet Situation

As things stand, the story is one of preliminary contact rather than negotiation. Manchester City have joined Tottenham in sounding out Gakpo’s representatives. Liverpool have received no formal approach and continue to prioritise incomings over outgoings. Gakpo himself is not pushing for an exit. Until a club places a bid capable of forcing a decision, the Dutchman remains a Liverpool player whose performances will be watched with added interest by more than one set of recruitment staff. The coming weeks will determine whether the enquiries fade into the background noise of the window or escalate into a full pursuit of one of Anfield’s more effective attackers.