Image for Liverpool eye £80m alternative as Cody Gakpo closes in on £85m Manchester City transfer
Image for Liverpool eye £80m alternative as Cody Gakpo closes in on £85m Manchester City transfer
The final days of a transfer window rarely pass without high drama on Merseyside, but few could have predicted a twist quite this seismic. As the clock ticks down towards Tuesday’s deadline, Cody Gakpo’s future at Liverpool is all but over, with the Dutch winger poised to complete a staggering £85 million move to Premier League rivals Manchester City.
The developments unfolded at a dizzying pace over the weekend. Gakpo started and provided an assist laying it on a plate for Alexander Isak in Liverpool’s frantic 2–2 draw against Nottingham Forest at Anfield. But that impressive contribution now appears to have been nothing more than a parting gift.
While Tottenham Hotspur had laid the groundwork by agreeing personal terms with the 27-year-old earlier in the summer, Manchester City’s late entry into the race completely altered the landscape. With Enzo Maresca’s side pushing hard, Gakpo made it clear he wanted the switch to the Etihad Stadium, and all parties are now scrambling to finalise an agreement before the window slams shut.
For Liverpool, losing a player of Gakpo’s profile who has been directly involved in half a century of Premier League goals for the club will spark debate.
Yet, an £85 million windfall for a player who found himself sliding down the pecking order is a valuation that sporting chiefs simply could not ignore, particularly given the unique financial landscape of this summer’s market. Much like the decision to cash in on Luis Díaz in previous years, the funds generated will be put straight back to work.
The domino effect of Gakpo’s exit has been set in motion by a flurry of activity behind the scenes at the AXA Training Centre. Liverpool have finally reached a breakthrough in their long-term pursuit of Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirming that the high-profile deal is entering its final stages.
Barcola has been a primary target for the Reds dating back to last summer, and his imminent arrival on Merseyside will help soften the blow of Gakpo’s departure (maybe). The French international joins a revamped attacking unit that already welcomed young talent Victor Munoz from Osasuna earlier this summer, following the emotional departure of Mohamed Salah to Trabzonspor.
However, with Gakpo heading for the exit and the margins for error shrinking by the hour, recruitment staff know that adding just Barcola may not be enough.
Khadim Diakhaté of Dsports indicate that Liverpool have dramatically stepped up their interest in Crystal Palace winger Ismaïla Sarr. Palace have already rebuffed an opening proposal of around £50 million, alongside rejecting higher €60 million packages, but with Gakpo’s £85 million sale unlocking significant capital, the Reds are actively preparing an improved bid in the region of €75 million to €80 million (£63m to £67m).
Palace’s Iliman Ndiaye has also been briefly mentioned as an alternative, but Sarr remains a primary focus as Liverpool look to secure a dynamic right-sided option.
Letting Gakpo go to a direct title rival carries obvious sporting risks, but the anxiety among the fanbase extends well beyond the forward line.
With Curtis Jones having already departed and Stefan Bajcetic widely expected to follow him out the door before the deadline, the midfield options at the disposal of the coaching staff are looking increasingly threadbare. Stripped down to bare bones, the players realistically capable of operating in the double pivot are restricted to Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and youngster Trey Nyoni.
Questions hang heavily over Wataru Endo’s long-term future amid permanent interest from elsewhere, while academy graduate James McConnell is expected to secure a temporary loan move to gain vital senior experience rather than filling a gap in the first-team squad.
Failing to adequately reinforce the engine room after two inconsistent performances to start the campaign compounded by a general feeling that the club has occasionally dithered when decisiveness was required could prove just as damaging as any departure in the final third.
As Paul Joyce and Fabrizio Romano continue to break developments from the coalface of this frantic window, the pressure is firmly on the hierarchy. The next few days will dictate the narrative of Liverpool’s season.
If the club can successfully navigate Gakpo’s exit, land Sarr alongside Barcola, and perhaps address the glaring depth issues in midfield, it will go down as one of the most chaotic yet ultimately transformative windows in recent memory. If they stumble, the inquest on Merseyside will be swift and unforgiving.