Image Credits: Imago Images
Cody Gakpo signed a new contract at Liverpool in 2025 after playing a key role in their title-winning campaign, but this season has been far less productive.
His output has dropped significantly, scoring nine goals, and he has been affected by a lack of pace in the attack. The departures of Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, along with Mohamed Salah’s struggles, have left the forward line short of direct running.
Liverpool are targeting reinforcements on the left, with links to Yan Diomande, Bradley Barcola, Said El Mala and Abde Ezzalzouli. The Red have already held talks with Diomande’s representatives.
According to Dominic King of The Telegraph, Netherlands international Cody Gakpo will not be allowed to leave in the summer transfer window.
Arne Slot’s attacking options have been further depleted by injuries to Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak over the past month. Ekitike is likely to miss the rest of 2026, while Salah is expected to depart at the end of the season.
Dominic King wrote: “There are questions to answer and it is probably asking too much for Alexander Isak to be available for 60 games straight. Cody Gakpo would not be allowed to go anywhere, given he can play across the forward line, but who else can provide goals?”
Cody Gakpo reached 50 goals for Liverpool by scoring against Manchester United on Sunday. He became the 58th player in the club’s history to hit that mark, doing so in 177 appearances since arriving from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023.
Gakpo’s goals include 32 in the Premier League, nine in the Carabao Cup, five in the Champions League and four in the Europa League. He opened his account in a 2-0 win over Everton at Anfield a month after joining.
He is only the second Dutch player to reach the milestone for Liverpool, following Dirk Kuyt. Meanwhile, Dominic King reports that Federico Chiesa is “certain to be sold”, despite injuries limiting the club’s attacking options.
King added: “Federico Chiesa is certain to be sold in the summer and that would leave Liverpool vulnerable. It explains why Bradley Barcola’s name has emerged again, after Liverpool were linked with the Paris St-Germain forward 12 months ago.
“The club were at pains to distance themselves from a move for him then, as they made it clear Rio Ngumoha’s development could not be checked and they were pursuing other targets. The landscape has now changed, however – and they have some serious work to do.”
Bayern Munich showed interest in Cody Gakpo after signing Luis Diaz from Liverpool last summer for around €75million. It remains to be seen whether the Bundesliga champions will reignite their interest this summer.