Cody Gakpo has been linked with a surprise move to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur this summer as Roberto De Zerbi promises to keep spending to overhaul last season's 17th place side
Gakpo was criticised for his performances last season but his status in Liverpool's squad is higher than ever in the post-Salah era
Gakpo was criticised for his performances last season but his status in Liverpool's squad is higher than ever in the post-Salah era(Image: Getty Images)
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Watching Liverpool at Anfield last season, you'd be forgiven for thinking many supporters might be more than happy to see the back of Cody Gakpo this summer.
The 27-year-old made 52 appearances in Arne Slot's final season at the helm as the Reds' first-choice left winger, but suffered his worst campaign in front of goal, failing to crack double figures in all competitions for the first time in a full season at the club
Gakpo, along with Mohamed Salah on the opposite wing, was criticised heavily by pundits and supporters alike. His struggles were brought into sharper relief by promising displays from Rio Ngumoha.
The clamour for Ngumoha to be given more minutes reached fever pitch in May when a chorus of boos met Slot's decision to bring on a blunt Alexander Isak for Ngumoha, as Liverpool drew at home against Chelsea. And as early as March, both Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher had called for Gakpo to be dropped in favour of the 17-year-old.
Fast forward to August and Gakpo is one of two attacking players on Tottenham's shortlist as they look to beef up their attack ahead of the new season. The other is Manchester City's Savinho.
Liverpool aren't actively looking to sell the Dutch international, but as they pursue attacking targets of their own - namely PSG pair Bradley Barcola, the Reds' prime target, and Ibrahim Mbaye - there's a sense in North London that a respectable offer could alter Liverpool's stance.
As things stand, the general reaction from your nearest Liverpool fan on the street to the idea of Gakpo leaving is likely to be one of concern. Gakpo wasn't the only Liverpool player who struggled to really step up to the plate last season after all and only Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike scored more than him last term - with only one of those available to Andoni Iraola in the foreseeable future.
An often-overlooked statistic, though it may be more of an indictment of Liverpool's other options at present, is that Gakpo is the highest-scoring Liverpool player in the current squad available to Andoni Iraola. He's helped himself to 50 goals and 23 assists from 180 appearances.
Those aren't the numbers of a Salah or even a Sadio Mane, but few players can match that and they're respectable for someone who isn't your No.1 guy. Additionally, Gakpo's status as Liverpool's highest-active goalscorer demands respect he perhaps hasn't always been afforded.
Gakpo prefers playing from the left side, cutting in on his right foot to shoot and attacking crosses - something he should do with more conviction - at the far post, but is also capable of filling in as a No. 9, doing so regularly throughout his Liverpool career. In the absence of Ekitike, he is back up to Alexander Isak right now.
Liverpool are incredibly thin in multiple areas of the squad, an issue Iraola has been open about. A replacement for Salah is essential, as - Bradley Barcola pending - Liverpool lack a goalscoring winger. Intriguingly, Barcola too prefers playing from the left.
There are high hopes for Ngumoha, and Victor Munoz has been hailed as a shrewd signing, but neither of them yet have a proven record of delivering the numbers Liverpool will require in terms of either goals or assists. Nor do either look - certainly now - capable of playing as a central striker should Isak struggle for whatever reason with injury again. As such, to part with Gakpo would certainly be a major risk.
But should Liverpool land Barcola and Spurs offer a figure that the Reds hierarchy believe is good business, Gakpo could well depart before the transfer window closes.
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Liverpool at London Stadium on November 30, 2025 in London, England
Cody Gakpo has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur this summer(Image: Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
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At 27, Gakpo won't want to be playing a bit-part role on Merseyside and should be prioritising starting games week-in, week-out. Questions also remain about whether Gakpo would be an ideal fit for Iraola's style of football. Yet to make an appearance under the new head coach having been afforded an extra break following the World Cup and on compassionate grounds.
An exit might well become a natural development sooner or later, Spurs under Roberto De Zerbi might be a project that Gakpo fancies sinking his teeth into should his situation at Anfield take a downturn.
But it's hard to look past where that leaves Liverpool. Gakpo, at his worst, is still more than good enough to be viewed as a reliable squad player for a club with Liverpool's ambitions, and at his best he is capable starting in a team chasing silverware - 2024-25 proved that.
To let him go this summer, rather than allowing him to consider his options next year, would leave Virgil van Dijk - a centre-back - as the Reds' highest-scoring current player.
To allow this to happen in a summer where Liverpool are already facing a myriad of uncertainties would be a dangerous gamble indeed.