Manchester City’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo hangs in the balance, with Liverpool prepared to keep the forward unless they can source a replacement before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
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Manchester City have spent the closing stages of the window hunting for attacking reinforcements, having let Savinho and Omar Marmoush go to Tottenham and with Jack Grealish also expected to leave before Tuesday’s deadline.
An eye-catching target has come to the fore in the last week, with the club opening talks with Liverpool over a move for Gakpo.
The Netherlands international, a key figure at Anfield in recent seasons, is understood to have made Manchester City his preferred destination ahead of Tottenham, and reports suggest that Andoni Iraola’s side are looking for a fee in the region of £85 million.
Yet for all the momentum behind the move, it would appear there are still plenty of pieces that would need to fall into place to get the deal over the line.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has agreed to join forces with Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium in the final days of the transfer window, according to new reports.cityxtra.co.ukLiverpool's Cody Gakpo Agrees to Join Man City as Club-to-Club Talks Advance
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo has agreed to join forces with Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium in the final days of the transfer window, according to new reports.
Cody Gakpo deal depends on Liverpool replacement
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have informed Gakpo’s camp that they would be ready to keep him at the club should they fail to sign a replacement.
The forward is said to have agreed terms with Manchester City on Saturday, but would also be happy to remain at Anfield if the Reds ultimately decide not to sanction a sale.
Specifically, Romano adds that the entire situation now hinges on Liverpool’s ability to bring in Crystal Palace star Ismaila Sarr. In other words, City’s hopes of landing Gakpo rest as much on Liverpool’s business as their own.
A more interesting question for fans in Manchester is whether Enzo Maresca's side have a backup plan ready in the event that Liverpool keep Gakpo.
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How the Ismaila Sarr situation could unlock Gakpo’s move
The Reds confirmed a blockbuster deal for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola on Monday, but remain in the market for another wide man to bolster their options; Barcola is seen as a replacement for Mohamed Salah.
Gakpo's place in the squad would need to be filled by someone else, and Sarr has emerged as a leading candidate - though Palace are unlikely to part with the Senegal international without generous compensation.
Until Liverpool get a replacement over the line, Gakpo cannot officially complete his switch to the Etihad Stadium, leaving the situation largely out of City's hands.
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What Cody Gakpo would offer Manchester City
For Enzo Maresca, the appeal is obvious. Gakpo arrived at Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 and has since developed into a Premier League-proven attacker, playing a significant role in the Reds’ most recent title triumph.
Comfortable operating anywhere across the front line, the Dutchman offers exactly the kind of versatility and end product Manchester City are crying out for after a summer that has stripped their forward department bare.
Should a deal be struck, Gakpo would provide fresh competition for wide men such as Antoine Semenyo and the injury-hit Jérémy Doku and immediately strengthen a reshaped attack.
He could also feature down the middle as a backup to Erling Haaland, who scored his first two goals of the season in last weekend’s victory over Crystal Palace.
If reports are to be believed, Liverpool’s search for a replacement will ultimately determine whether Manchester City can get one of the more surprising deals of the summer over the line before Tuesday’s deadline.