Liverpool Firm on Cody Gakpo Amid Tottenham Interest
Liverpool look ready to slam the door on Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Cody Gakpo – and that could push Roberto De Zerbi firmly into Manchester City’s camp over Savinho.
Liverpool dig in over Gakpo
Spurs thought they had made a major breakthrough. Gakpo has agreed personal terms with the North London club and has already told Liverpool he wants to leave this summer, according to reports. At 27, with World Cup pedigree and the ability to operate across the front line, he fits De Zerbi’s blueprint perfectly.
But Liverpool’s stance is brutal and clear. The price is high, and the appetite to sell is low.
The Anfield club are said to want at least £60million, and potentially up to £70m, to even consider parting with the Dutchman. He endured a patchy campaign last season, but his three goals at the World Cup helped restore his swagger, and a strong pre-season under new boss Andoni Iraola has hardened Liverpool’s resolve.
talkSPORT’s transfer reporter Alex Crook believes that resolve will hold.
“I don’t think it will happen. Speaking to sources at Liverpool they think he’s had a good pre-season under Iraola, they think he’s a player that Iraola can get the best out of,” Crook told Last Word on Spurs, adding that while Gakpo “probably would be open to the move,” he does not expect the transfer to go through before deadline day.
Tottenham had been preparing to test that stance with a £60m bid. On this evidence, it may not be enough.
De Zerbi turns the spotlight on Savinho
So the focus shifts down the touchline. If Gakpo is locked away at Anfield, Savinho becomes the headline act.
De Zerbi has made no secret internally of what he wants: two wide forwards, Gakpo and Savinho, both versatile, both capable of operating across the front three and both able to raise the technical level of his attack. Spurs have already backed him heavily in defence and midfield. Now comes the expensive part.
Personal terms with Savinho are already in place. Tottenham tried to prise the Brazilian away from Manchester City last summer and failed, City refusing to cash in. Since then, Savinho has signed a new deal at the Etihad, strengthening City’s hand and inflating the numbers.
This time, though, Spurs believe there is a deal to be done.
According to The Times, Tottenham are in talks with City over an eye-watering £85m move for the 22-year-old. Earlier estimates had the winger valued in the £60–65m bracket, but those figures now look outdated. If De Zerbi wants his man, Spurs will have to go big.
And recent business suggests they are more than willing. The arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have already underlined Tottenham’s readiness to spend heavily to reshape the squad in their manager’s image and drag the club back into serious European contention.
If Liverpool hold their line on Gakpo and City finally open the door on Savinho, De Zerbi’s wide-forward revolution may end up being built around a Brazilian starlet rather than a Dutch World Cup hero. The only question now is how far Spurs are prepared to push the chequebook to make it happen.
