Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has emerged as one of the top transfer targets for Bayern Munich this summer after it has become clear that Florian Wirtz has chosen to join the Premier League champions.
Gakpo’s name is just one on a small list of players that are so-called “backup” options to Wirtz that includes Chelsea FC’s Christopher Nkunku, RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, AC Milan’s Rafa Leão, and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma.
Nonetheless, the Gakpo links have been gaining traction, especially since Wirtz is heading to Merseyside. Justifiably assuming that the German playmaker won’t supplant Mohamed Salah’s place in Arne Slot’s preferred starting eleven, Gakpo is one player whose starting spot could be credibly threatened by Wirtz’s arrival, giving reason for the Dutch international to possibly consider a move.
Per information from Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg, inquiries have already been made as far as a potential sale of Gakpo this summer, even though Slot and Liverpool have not indicated any intent to sell him. With the right fee, though, Liverpool could reconsider selling him, as they would not want to miss out on a deal that financially favors them. Board member for sport Ma Eberl is currently leading the efforts to gauge Gakpo’s situation in the wake of Bayern missing out on Wirtz.
Liverpool FC v Bayer 04 Leverkusen - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
Per The Mirror, the fee that Bayern would likely have to pay to pry Gakpo away from Liverpool would be roughly £75m, or €90m — a considerable fee, but much less than the €150m they would have paid for Wirtz. For the Reds, though, they also want to see what winds up happening with both Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, both of whom have been linked with moves away from Anfield this summer.
As things stand, Gakpo’s contract with Liverpool runs through June 2028 and he is valued at €70m as per Transfermarkt. Since he’s joined the Merseyside outfit from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 after a standout World Cup with the Netherlands in Qatar, Gakpo has been able to tally 41 goals and 17 assists from a total of 128 appearances across all competitions. Under both Slot and former manager Jürgen Klopp, Gakpo has also showed great versatility in being able to play both as a winger or a central forward, depending on the other attacking personnel either manager would choose to play. That versatility would be worth its weight in gold ar Bayern.