Liverpool
Cody Gakpo future at Liverpool grows uncertain as Iraola era begins
Cody Gakpo future at Liverpool has become one of the most closely watched storylines of this summer’s transfer window, and the situation is important for both the player and the club. According to TEAMtalk’s transfer insider Graeme Bailey, the Dutch international has raised concerns about his role under incoming head coach Andoni Iraola. Sources close to the situation informed TEAMtalk that Gakpo is particularly unsettled by the prospect of being behind 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha in the pecking order next season.
The 27-year-old has voiced those concerns to people in his inner circle, and his representatives are now understood to be carrying out due diligence on potential opportunities elsewhere. Liverpool, for their part, are not actively pushing Gakpo out of the door. The club view him as far from untouchable, however, and would be prepared to listen if a substantial offer arrived. That distinction matters enormously in a summer where Liverpool face a significant rebuilding effort under their new Spanish head coach.
Cody Gakpo future complicated by Ngumoha’s rapid rise at Liverpool
Gakpo endured a frustrating 2025/26 domestic campaign, finishing it with nine goals and six assists across all competitions. Simultaneously, Ngumoha’s emergence gave Liverpool supporters and the new management group a tantalising glimpse of something different. Internally, the teenager is regarded as a cornerstone of Iraola’s plans, and that expectation has inevitably cast a shadow over Gakpo’s position. Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs showing concrete interest, with SoccerNews reporting that Spurs are actively preparing a formal approach to tempt Liverpool into a sale.
Cody Gakpo future depends on how Iraola handles a delicate squad transition
This situation deserves more careful thought than a straightforward sale would suggest. Gakpo is 27, in peak condition, and technically capable of thriving under a high-intensity manager like Iraola. Selling him purely because a teenager looks promising is a gamble that could haunt Liverpool badly.
Iraola should sit down with Gakpo directly and give him an honest picture of how his role fits into the system. Competition within the squad increases standards, so framing Ngumoha’s rise as motivation rather than a threat makes far more tactical sense. The Spaniard built his reputation at Bournemouth by getting maximum output from players who felt trusted and understood within his structure. Gakpo’s versatility across the front line is precisely the kind of quality that benefits a newly appointed manager still learning his squad.
Also read: Liverpool and Man Utd ready for transfer war to sign Bournemouth’s energetic star
If Liverpool accept £55m or £60m for a forward with Gakpo’s record and sell him to a direct rival, they may find themselves deeply regretting that decision by the winter. Iraola, rather than allowing uncertainty to fester, should act with clarity and intention before this situation drifts too far out of hand.
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