Manchester City have made a surprise entry into the race to sign Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, threatening a deal that Tottenham Hotspur appeared closest to finalizing in the closing days of the transfer window.
Fabrizio Romano confirmed that Man City officials made contact today with the Dutch international’s representatives and initiated talks following details revealed by Mounir Boualin, while Tottenham remain heavily involved in the operation.
Gakpo had previously informed Liverpool’s hierarchy through his agents of his desire to depart, seeing no long-term future at Anfield. He had reached a verbal agreement with Tottenham on personal terms, leaving negotiations between the clubs pending before City intervened.
Tottenham are preparing a new proposal exceeding their initial £60 million approach. However, Liverpool refuse to sell the player without first securing a replacement and are actively pursuing Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. City’s entry could drive the fee higher toward Liverpool’s £70 million valuation while offering Gakpo a destination competing directly for major honors.
The 27-year-old joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for a fee between €40m and €50m, later signing a long-term contract extension in August 2025, giving the Reds strong leverage in dictating his departure terms.
Gakpo made 50 appearances during the 2025–2026 season, scoring 9 goals and providing 6 assists, while reaching his 50th goal in a Liverpool shirt during his 177th appearance last May. After opening his account for the new season against Newcastle, City’s intervention could transform his transfer from a near-certain move to Tottenham into an open bidding war.
