Tottenham Hotspur have placed Cody Gakpo on their summer transfer wishlist, but the North London side face a firm block from Anfield as details of Liverpool’s strict £70m stance emerge.
It has already been a summer of massive change for Liverpool fans. With Arne Slot gone, new manager Andoni Iraola has walked straight into a huge squad rebuild.
Fans have already said goodbye to Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson, while Ibrahima Konate left for Real Madrid at the end of his contract. While Liverpool moved quickly to sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna for around €40m, they are still desperate to bring in another top-class winger especially after missing out on Yan Diomande, who chose Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Now, a new transfer rumour has surfaced. Tottenham Hotspur are seriously interested in signing Cody Gakpo. Spurs are spending big this summer, with a £100m deal for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali almost done, and they have added the 27-year-old Dutchman to their shortlist.
However, if Tottenham think they can get Gakpo on the cheap after his mixed form last season, they are mistaken.
Liverpool bolt the door on Gakpo exit
According to transfer Journalist Ben Jacobs Liverpool are completely shutting down any talk of Gakpo leaving Anfield right now unless an astronomical offer arrives.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he made the club’s stance clear:
“Cody Gakpo is a name on Tottenham’s list.Liverpool have no real desire to sell. If anyone wants to do business, they are going to point towards the Anthony Gordon £70m move to Barcelona. The player has not told Liverpool he wants to leave, as of today.”
Because Liverpool are already short on wingers after losing Salah and missing out on Diomande, letting Gakpo go makes no sense. Anfield officials have no intention of making negotiations easy for rival suitors. If Tottenham or any other club decides to turn their interest into a formal proposal,
The Reds will point directly to that £70m baseline mark and demand an elite premium. If no one hits that number, he stays.
Despite an inconsistent 2025/26 club season where he registered 7 goals and 5 assists across 36 Premier League matches, Gakpo experienced a major individual turning point during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He served as a focal point for the Netherlands, scoring 4 goals throughout the tournament before their shootout elimination by Morocco in the Round of 32.
The secret behind the Bradley Barcola chase
The main reason Liverpool are holding onto Gakpo is because their top target to replace Salah is PSG’s Bradley Barcola. While the French champions have publicly claimed that Barcola is completely unsellable, the winger caused a stir at the World Cup when asked about his future, keeping his options wide open by admitting he doesn’t know what will happen next.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has since added crucial weight to the report, revealing that behind-the-scenes contract talks between the player and PSG have completely broken down over the last 10 months.
Romano explained why Barcola’s response is such a big deal:
“Guys, let me tell you one thing. If a player wants to stay and is completely certain about staying, they simply tell the media, ‘I’m staying. I’m staying at Paris Saint-Germain. We’ve won everything for two years in a row. There is no reason to leave.’ Barcola didn’t say that.
“That’s because the information I have is different from what many others are reporting. I told you in April, then again in May, again in June and once more just two days ago that many people were saying Barcola was not leaving Paris Saint-Germain and was not for sale. My information has always been different. I have always felt there could be movement regarding Barcola.”
Because Barcola hasn’t signed a new deal in Paris, a massive bid from England could actually force PSG to alter their hardline stance. Ben Jacobs later noted that the situation remains entirely fluid, as the French side’s ultimate decision rests on their own movements in the market.
“All of the below means that the Bradley Barcola situation is still open.If PSG add one or two wide attackers or wingers, the door becomes open for Barcola to leave. PSG and Barcola are at an impasse over contract talks. Atthe right number, PSG might be prepared to sell. Liverpool and Barcola could be a developing story. He is high in their thinking as Liverpool look to add another attacker.”
For Liverpool, the plan is obvious. They are putting all their energy into seeing if they can find the financial leverage required to strike a deal with PSG. Until that situation is resolved, Tottenham can look all they want, but Cody Gakpo isn’t going anywhere.