LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo arrives before the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo arrives before the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Man City have reportedly made contact with Cody Gakpo over a potential transfer from Liverpool, while Tottenham are preparing another bid.
In some of the window’s more surprising news, Man City are said to have made their interest known in Gakpo in an apparent attempt to hijack Tottenham‘s move for the Liverpool winger.
Mounir Boualin of Dutch outlet Soccernews first reported the story, and it has since been corroborated by journalists Fabrizio Romano and Gianluca Di Marzio.
This has all been happening while Tottenham have been negotiating over Gakpo’s price, with a £51 million bid already having been rejected, according to Boualin.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“Manchester City has now also shown interest in Gakpo. The English top club is said to have already made its interest known to the player, although City has not yet officially contacted Liverpool,” the reporter wrote.
“Gakpo is not immediately seen as a player who will automatically make it into the strongest starting eleven. The attacker is primarily intended to provide extra quality and depth to the squad.”
Di Marzio later added that Man City are “making an attempt to sign” the 27-year-old, but Liverpool “don’t want to just go along with it,” explained Boualin.
Another Dutch journalist, Rik Elfrink of AD, wrote online that it was “last week” when Man City reached out to Gakpo.
While unlikely, if Gakpo is given a straight choice between Man City and Tottenham, it would be interesting to see whether he chooses to be a regular starter in London or play a similar role in Manchester to the one he occupies at Liverpool.
Tottenham ‘preparing another bid’ for Cody Gakpo
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side's first and equalising goal during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The approach from Man City could throw a spanner in the works for Tottenham, who are widely said to have agreed personal terms with Gakpo earlier this summer.
The Lilywhites are yet to offer a sum high enough to satisfy the Reds, but they “do not intend to abandon their interest,” said Soccernews.
“Spurs are preparing a new bid and intend to try to make Liverpool reconsider.”
It will not only be the price that keeps Gakpo from leaving, however.
Liverpool will need to recruit two wingers of their own before allowing Gakpo to exit the club.
At the moment, those two wingers look most likely to be Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh to play on the left and right, respectively.
Paris Saint-Germain and Brighton are yet to accept bids, though, as the transfer window enters its final week.
READ MORE
Minteh 3rd bid expected & “hopeful” of Barcola this week
Joanna Durkan
Barcola was not part of PSG‘s travelling squad for their draw against Rennes on Sunday, nor was Mbaye, as Luis Enrique again left them out.
The Mail‘s Lewis Steele states that Liverpool “remain hopeful” of signing Barcola “this week.”
Liverpool are still seeking a compromise between PSG‘s demands and their own valuation for the Frenchman, with Le Parisien reporting “a favorable outcome could be reached at any moment.”
It has been mooted that Liverpool could strike an agreement below €150 million (£128.3m), but not lower than €120m (£102.6m) for Barcola, who will only train until his future is resolved.
Frimpong, Kerkez FotMob collage FI
Frimpong, Kerkez FotMob collage FI
ROUNDUP COLLAGE(57)
ROUNDUP COLLAGE(57)
Football – Pre-Season – Liverpool USA Tour Day 12
CHICAGO, USA - Friday, July 31, 2026: Liverpool's Stefan Bajcetic during an open training session at the Endeavor Health Performance Center ahead of their final pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field in Chicago. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)