Tottenham Eyes Cody Gakpo as Summer Spending Continues

Tottenham’s summer of heavy spending may not be over yet – and Cody Gakpo is suddenly back on the table.

After weeks of resistance from Liverpool, Fabrizio Romano now reports that the door has been nudged open for Spurs to move for the Dutch forward, with the Merseyside club prepared to listen under two clear conditions: the size of the financial package, and the outcome of their push to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.

Spurs won’t stop at £230m

Tottenham have already torn into this window with intent. Around £230m has gone on Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka – a rebuild that screams ambition rather than mere tinkering.

Yet the squad still feels one attacker short. At least one winger or striker is expected to arrive before the window shuts, and the search has narrowed onto high-calibre, ready-made options.

On the flanks, two names sit at the top of Spurs’ list: Liverpool’s Gakpo and Manchester City’s Savinho. Both, though, belong to clubs reluctant to weaken themselves without replacements in hand. That’s been the main obstacle.

Liverpool’s stance starts to shift

Liverpool’s wide options are already thin. Mohamed Salah is edging towards the final chapter of his Anfield career, and while Victor Munoz has arrived this summer, he is not the definitive long-term heir to the Egyptian’s throne.

Gakpo did not escape criticism for his 2025/26 campaign. He was among those who underperformed in a Liverpool side that often looked short of spark. Even so, the club’s initial position was firm: he stays, unless something significant changes.

Something is changing.

Liverpool have accelerated their efforts in the market, pushing to bring in Barcola and another PSG player to bolster their attack. According to recent reports, they have been given the green light on at least one of those targets. That development has softened their stance on Gakpo.

Romano summed it up on X: Tottenham are in direct talks with Gakpo’s camp over a possible move, after initial approaches in July. Back then, Liverpool closed the door. Now, the deal “could depend on [the] financial package / Barcola pursuit.”

Put simply: if Liverpool land Barcola and the money is right, they will talk.

A £72m question

Liverpool hold the leverage. Gakpo still has four years left on his contract, and Andoni Iraola’s side can afford to be stubborn.

Reports this week suggest the Reds are looking for around £72m, using Anthony Gordon’s £69m transfer from Newcastle United to Barcelona as a reference point. In a market where wide forwards routinely command premium fees, Liverpool are determined not to undersell a 26-year-old with prime years ahead of him.

For Spurs, the equation is brutal but clear. Pay close to Liverpool’s number and hope Barcola arrives at Anfield – or walk away and find goals elsewhere.

Striker hunt runs in parallel

While Gakpo headlines the winger search, Tottenham are also working another track: a new centre-forward.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Spurs are “exploring the possibility of signing a striker this summer” and have discussed “several names internally, including Omar Marmoush.” The West Ham forward has impressed enough to feature in those conversations, but no move is advanced yet.

Nicolas Jackson’s name has also surfaced in recent days, but Romano has cooled that talk. There is “nothing close or imminent with Tottenham,” he explained. Jackson is “not a priority” and there are “no advanced negotiations” – he is simply one of several options on a longlist.

The more serious noise around Jackson currently comes from Aston Villa. They view the Chelsea striker as one of their priority targets. The catch? They have already taken Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea this window, which means any deal for Jackson must be permanent.

That pushes everything back to finances again. Villa’s move hinges on how much room they have left to spend, and whether they can meet Chelsea’s demands. One thing in their favour: Unai Emery’s strong relationship with Jackson from their time together at Villarreal, a connection that still carries weight and could yet drag the striker towards Birmingham.

Tottenham’s next move

So Spurs stand at a familiar crossroads: pay up for proven Premier League firepower, or keep hunting for value in a market that rarely offers it in the final weeks.

Their talks with Gakpo’s camp show clear intent. Liverpool’s willingness to consider a sale, once unthinkable earlier in the summer, now rests on two simple pillars – the fee and Barcola. If both fall into place, a Dutch international could soon be swapping Anfield red for north London white.

Tottenham have already made a statement with their spending. How loudly will they choose to shout in attack?