The Liverpool star has been on fire at the World Cup.
Tottenham Hotspur hold genuine appreciation for Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, according to Fabrizio Romano, though any move for the Dutch international remains entirely dependent on what Liverpool and incoming manager Andoni Iraola decide about his future, with the Reds currently not opening the door to a sale.
Romano’s update provides clarity on a situation that had generated speculation without much concrete substance. He said (h/t Chris Cowlin on X):
“There is an appreciation from Tottenham for Cody Gakpo, that is true. He is a player that they appreciate. It completely depends on what Liverpool want to do, they are yet to decide, at the moment they are not opening doors to his exit. Liverpool and Iraola will decide together, they will make a plan. So at the moment Liverpool are not negotiating for the exit of Cody Gakpo. There is interest from Tottenham but they will have to wait to see what Liverpool want to do.”
The framing is important. This is not a case of Tottenham actively pursuing a player who has made clear his desire to leave, in the way Sandro Tonali has expressed his eagerness to join Spurs from Newcastle. Instead, it reflects a more passive form of interest, an acknowledgement that Gakpo’s qualities would suit De Zerbi’s system, contingent entirely on Liverpool’s own internal deliberations about their squad shape under their new manager.
Cody Gakpo will bring versatility to Tottenham’s attack
The 6ft 4in Gakpo’s profile is an interesting one for Tottenham’s attacking rebuild. The Dutch forward’s versatility across the front line, his physical presence, and his ability to operate centrally or from wide areas would provide De Zerbi with another flexible attacking option, addressing the same creative deficiencies that have driven interest in Rafael Leao, Victor Osimhen, and Santiago Gimenez throughout the summer.
Fabrizio Romano… “There is an appreciation from Tottenham for Cody Gakpo, that is true. He is a player that appreciate. It completely depends on what Liverpool want to do, they are yet to decide, at the moment they are not opening doors to his exit. Liverpool and Iraola will… pic.twitter.com/ZCUqhIf6mv
— Chris Cowlin (@ChrisCowlin) June 22, 2026
For now, Tottenham’s position is one of patient observation rather than active negotiation. Liverpool’s incoming managerial change under Iraola adds genuine uncertainty to Gakpo’s situation, and until that picture becomes clearer, any Tottenham interest remains theoretical rather than actionable. Spurs have shown they are prepared to move decisively when a deal is there to be done, as with Tonali and Van Hecke. Gakpo, for now, sits in a different category entirely.