Cody Gakpo appears set to stay put at Liverpool after interest from Man City, with Gary Neville wondering why he was ever potentially on the table in the first place
Gary Neville on his Sky Sports podcast.
Gary Neville on his Sky Sports podcast.(Image: Sky Sports // YouTube)
Gary Neville was left bemused by Manchester City being interested in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, though the Dutchman now looks set to stay at Anfield beyond the transfer deadline.
Liverpool has brought in Bradley Barcola from PSG and Victor Munoz from Osasuna, and it looked into signing more forwards including Yankuba Minteh, Ismaila Sarr and Ibrahim Mbaye, the latter of whom is now at Aston Villa.
Gakpo, who scored 18 goals in Liverpool's title-winning season, has already provided two goal contributions in two games at the start of the new campaign, was the subject of interest from Spurs first but preferred Manchester City.
"It was bizarre," Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. "I did not understand it. He may not be a messiah of a winger or forward but he is reliable.
"He would be hard to replace and why would you sell him to Manchester City?
"Liverpool might have thought it was a big price and could have done without him but the way the season has started, it was far too big of a risk.
Cody Gakpo runs out of the Anfield tunnel to warm up.
Cody Gakpo runs out of the Anfield tunnel to warm up.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"Liverpool should be thinking it has a world-class group of forwards.
"The thought process should have been a holding midfielder and a couple of full-backs and Liverpool could have challenged for the title.
"If you don't do those things and you sell Gakpo, the signals you are sending to everyone are that you are not going to be competitive.
"It is the right decision. Who is to know what Barcola will do? Rio Ngumoha is still very young. Gakpo is consistent; he is always there in the moments when it hurts. It is difficult to find players like that."
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Gakpo filled in on the right wing against Nottingham Forest last time out and he might have to do something similar moving forward. Barcola, presumably, will operate mainly from the left.
Under Arne Slot, Gakpo excelled in his first season but followed that up with an underwhelming campaign. With Luis Diaz having been sold to Bayern Munich, he was left with too much to do in a struggling side.
Liverpool.com says: Gakpo is generally a regular contributor of goals and assists, and he knows the Premier League. It is the right call to keep him, and he can fill in for Alexander Isak at times too while Hugo Ekitike is injured.