Manchester City have opened formal negotiations with Liverpool to secure the services of forward Cody Gakpo. The 27-year-old Netherlands international has emerged as a primary target in the final days of the transfer window, with sources indicating that City is the player’s preferred destination should he depart Anfield before Tuesday’s deadline.
Gakpo, who moved to Liverpool from his boyhood club PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, has established himself as a consistent performer with 33 goals in 91 Premier League appearances. His recent form remains strong, having scored in last week’s draw at Newcastle and provided an assist for Alexander Isak during Saturday’s 2-2 stalemate against Nottingham Forest.
The potential transfer follows Liverpool’s agreement to sign Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola in a deal valued at up to £123m. While the club has indicated throughout the summer that they would not obstruct a move for Gakpo if their own recruitment targets were met, they are currently prioritizing the acquisition of another winger before finalizing any exit. Liverpool are actively monitoring Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh and Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr as potential reinforcements.
Internal competition at Anfield has intensified with the arrival of Victor Munoz and the emergence of youngster Rio Ngumoha, leaving Gakpo aware that his status as a first-choice starter is no longer guaranteed. Consequently, a departure would not be entirely unexpected.
Financially, a sale in the region of £85m would represent a significant profit for Liverpool, who originally acquired the forward for £35m following the 2022 World Cup. However, analysts warn that sanctioning the move carries substantial risk. With Hugo Ekitike sidelined until 2027 due to a ruptured Achilles tendon and Alexander Isak battling ongoing injury concerns, the club’s attacking depth remains a point of concern.
Liverpool management is currently evaluating the situation in light of the late interest from Manchester City. While Gakpo has proven his value as a multi-functional attacker, the club must balance the financial windfall against the potential impact on their squad depth as the transfer deadline approaches. The report also notes that the Netherlands forward’s future is set to become one of the key storylines heading into the final three days of the transfer window. The report also notes that liverpool taking massive risk’ – analysis. The report also notes that the understanding has been that if the club bring in the attacking players they want, they would not stand in the way of Gakpo if a solid offer came in, but all summer.
