Cody Gakpo Open to Tottenham Move as Liverpool's Stance Softens

Cody Gakpo is no longer just a name on Tottenham’s shortlist. He has spoken to the manager, weighed up the project and, according to fresh reporting in the Netherlands, is now open to walking away from Anfield and into Roberto De Zerbi’s new attack in north London.

The Liverpool forward held direct talks with De Zerbi last month, Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink reports, and left those conversations “definitely open” to a move to Spurs. That dialogue has shifted the mood around the deal. It is no longer hypothetical. The player knows how Tottenham would use him. Tottenham know he is prepared to come.

And crucially, Liverpool’s stance is softening.

Direct line to De Zerbi

Tottenham’s interest has been building for weeks. Voetbal International journalist Joost Blaauwhof previously revealed that Spurs had formally registered their interest in Gakpo, with De Zerbi identifying him and Savinho as two attackers who could offer different tools within his fluid, aggressive system.

Elfrink has now pushed the story on. Posting on X, he said Gakpo spoke with De Zerbi last month and emerged from that conversation open to a transfer. He added that Liverpool “now seems willing to go along with it”, with PSV Eindhoven also in line to benefit financially through the solidarity mechanism if a deal goes through.

That matters on several fronts. Gakpo has effectively received a tactical briefing from De Zerbi: where he would play, how often, and in what roles. Left, central, drifting across the front line – the kind of versatility that De Zerbi values. Spurs, in turn, have clarity that the 27‑year‑old is not just flattered by the interest; he is ready to seriously consider it.

The money: Liverpool hold the line

The next phase is brutal and simple: price.

SoccerNews report that Tottenham have already tested the water with an opening offer just over £60 million. Liverpool are expected to reject that. Their internal valuation sits closer to £70 million, a figure that would deliver a sizeable profit on the fee paid to PSV when Gakpo arrived in January 2023.

If Spurs are prepared to climb towards that number, this does not need to become a long, messy saga. Liverpool have set a clear bar. Tottenham know it. The gap is big enough to matter, but not so big that it kills the deal on the spot.

Liverpool also have little sporting incentive to fold cheaply. Gakpo is a proven Premier League attacker, comfortable off the left, through the middle or as a flexible piece in a rotating front line. Selling that profile below market value, to a direct rival, makes no sense.

Barcola chase hangs over Anfield

One question now shadows everything at Liverpool: what happens with Bradley Barcola?

Andoni Iraola is overseeing a major rebuild in attack. Mohamed Salah has already gone. The club are reshaping an entire frontline, and their pursuit of the Paris Saint‑Germain winger could dictate how bold they can be with Gakpo.

If Liverpool make real progress on Barcola, Gakpo’s situation becomes far more fluid. His sale would free up significant funds and space in the squad at a moment when the club are trying to refresh the attack without losing too much experience at once.

But there is risk. Offload Gakpo before Barcola – or another elite forward – is secured, and Liverpool leave themselves exposed. They are already in a period of transition. Removing another established attacker before the replacement walks through the door would stretch Iraola’s options and test the depth of the squad over a long season.

PSV, watching from a distance, also have skin in the game. Elfrink notes that the Dutch club stand to gain via the solidarity mechanism if Spurs complete the transfer, giving them an extra reason to follow every twist.

Spurs push, Liverpool weigh the risk

From Tottenham’s side, the picture is clearer. They want Gakpo. De Zerbi has invested time early, speaking directly to the player and sketching out his role. Spurs see a multi-functional forward in his prime, with Premier League minutes already banked and the technical profile to slot into a high‑tempo, positional play system.

From Liverpool’s side, the calculation is more delicate.

Gakpo can frustrate. His form has dipped in patches, and his output has not always matched his talent. Yet he still brings goals, versatility and top‑flight experience. Those attributes carry real weight in a squad fighting across multiple competitions, especially in a season of structural change.

There is also the uncomfortable strategic angle: strengthening Tottenham. De Zerbi’s admiration for Gakpo is obvious. Those talks would not have happened so early in the window if Spurs viewed him as a marginal upgrade. Liverpool must decide whether £70 million and the chance to retool the attack outweigh the risk of watching Gakpo thrive in white, directly against them.

The framework of a deal is on the table. Tottenham want him. Gakpo is open. Liverpool are listening – at the right price.

What happens next may come down to one call on Barcola, and one final decision on whether Liverpool are prepared to cash in now and trust that the next piece of their attacking rebuild arrives in time.