Liverpool have decided to retain Cody Gakpo and close the door on his transfer to Manchester City after failing to secure a suitable replacement before the conclusion of the summer transfer window.
Manchester City had submitted an offer valued at approximately £85 million, while English reports indicated a structure of £75 million guaranteed plus £5 million in performance bonuses. However, Liverpool ultimately rejected the proposal.
The rejection came despite Gakpo reaching an agreement on personal terms with City, as the 27-year-old was eager to complete a move to the Etihad Stadium and work under manager Enzo Maresca.
All involved parties have been informed that negotiations have concluded. The Dutch forward accepted Liverpool’s decision to keep him at Anfield and expressed his readiness to continue the season under manager Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool’s refusal was not driven by a change in the player’s stance or stalled personal negotiations with City, but rather by the club’s inability to find a winger capable of replacing him at the required level, rendering Gakpo’s retention a squad-necessity decision.
Following the collapse of the deal, Manchester City pivoted their attention toward Everton’s Ndiaye to bolster their forward options, while simultaneously pushing to finalize a deal for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández.
Ndiaye offers City flexibility across the wing and central attack, whereas Enzo represents a separate target to rebuild the midfield, emerging as one of Maresca’s primary priorities in the final days of the transfer window.
