Gody Gakpo will reportedly stay at Liverpool beyond the summer transfer window in a sensational U-turn after the club turned down Manchester City's bid worth more than $100 million
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool looks on
Cody Gakpo will reportedly stay at Liverpool(Image: Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Cody Gakpo will stay at Liverpool beyond the summer transfer window after his proposed move to Manchester City was called off.
Gakpo was heavily rumored to be headed to Manchester City before the transfer window shut on Sept. 1, but the move is now off after Liverpool rejected a bid of up to $108 million (£80 million) from their Premier League rivals for the Dutch attacker.
It comes after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk urged the club to keep Gakpo following the Reds' 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
"What do you think? He's a quality player. I think we should keep quality players," van Dijk said of Gakpo.
"Let's see what the next few days bring. I want him to stay not only because he's a quality player but also because he's a friend of mine. He's very important for us."
Gakpo has started life well under new Reds manager Andoni Iraola, logging one goal and one assist in two games to begin the domestic campaign.
The 27-year-old will now compete for game time with new signing Bradley Barcola, who was announced as a Liverpool player on Monday after completing a $166 million transfer for PSG.
Two major transfer questions have now been answered with Barcola's move being finalized and Gakpo's proposed transfer to Manchester City getting called off, so it remains to be seen how FSG utilizes the final 24-plus hours of the transfer window, which closes at 6 pm ET on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Cody Gakpo of Liverpool FC during the Premier League match against Newcastle United
Liverpool rejected Manchester City's $108 million bid for Gakpo (Image: Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
The Athletic's David Ornstein was first to report Liverpool's decision regarding Gakpo on Monday afternoon, writing "all parties have now been in direct communication to confirm the deal is off."
Per Ornstein, Manchester City will now shift their efforts to signing Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who they have held interest in throughout the summer window.
There is also a component of Gakpo's failed move that impacts City's reported pursuit of Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, who had agreed to join Tottenham on Sunday under the assumption that Gakpo was signing with City.
With that move now off, City could shift their focus to Ndiaye, who was wanted by Tottenham after their interest in Gakpo was stunted by the Dutchman's desire to join Manchester City.
With Gakpo set to stay, Iraola has a bevy of attacking options to choose from, although one or more of them could end up having to play out of their natural position.
Both Barcola's and Gakpo's natural position is off the left, so one of the two will have to start on the right wing if they are both to fit in starting lineup.
Gakpo first joined Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven in Dec. 2022 in a deal worth up to $59.6 million and has recorded 50 goals and 23 assists across 180 appearances for the club. He signed a new five-year contract in Aug. 2025, shortly after helping the Reds lift the 2024-25 Premier League title.