Tottenham Pursues Cody Gakpo as De Zerbi Seeks Key Attacker

Tottenham’s summer of heavy spending may not be done yet – and the next move could be their loudest. The club are exploring a deal for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo as Roberto De Zerbi pushes hard for at least one more wide attacker to crown his first major rebuild in north London.

Spurs have already poured £237m into this window, smashing their transfer record with a £100m deal for Sandro Tonali and backing it up with an £85m move for Mateus Fernandes. The midfield has been reshaped, the defence reinforced. De Zerbi’s message now is clear: the attack is next.

And in his eyes, the incoming player is a “bomba”.

Gakpo on Spurs’ radar – but Liverpool hold the cards

Tottenham’s interest in Gakpo is real, but this is a complex chase. Liverpool will not let the Netherlands international walk out of Anfield unless a replacement is through the door. Gakpo still has four years left on his contract, and prising him away would be expensive.

He is one of the more experienced forwards in Andoni Iraola’s squad, trusted to operate wide and also step inside as cover through the middle. That versatility matters while Hugo Ekitike continues his rehabilitation from an Achilles injury. Losing Gakpo without a clear succession plan would punch a hole in Liverpool’s attacking options.

The Merseyside club are expected to make a formal approach to Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola, but that path is hardly straightforward. PSG value the 23-year-old at around £145m, a figure that instantly turns any negotiation into a long, grinding saga rather than a quick fix.

If Liverpool do land Barcola and sanction Gakpo’s exit, the picture on the flanks would suddenly look thin. Teenager Rio Ngumoha and new signing Victor Munoz would be the remaining natural wide options. That reality underlines why Liverpool are in no rush to open the door, even with Spurs watching closely.

De Zerbi’s ‘bomba’ promise

De Zerbi has not exactly played down expectations. Speaking last week, he insisted Spurs are only “60 per cent” through their transfer plan and teased that another big attacking signing is on the way.

“Now we have another bomba!” he told football.london, stressing that the new arrival would be an attacker. Asked if the deal was close, he simply replied: “I hope, but it’s not finished for sure.”

He has also left room for more than one addition.

“I think two, maybe three,” he said when pressed on how many more players might come in. The Italian then moved to clarify his choice of words, pointing out that “bomba” carries a different nuance in his native language.

“I think Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Senesi, Robertson are bomba. For me, top player for us.”

The message beneath the semantics is unmistakable. De Zerbi wants elite-level reinforcements and believes they are imminent.

Savinho another key target

Gakpo is not the only winger on Tottenham’s list. The club have also explored a move for Manchester City’s Brazilian wide man Savinho.

City know the player wants to leave and join Spurs, but the Premier League champions are not ready to move yet. No formal bid has arrived, and Savinho signed a new contract only last summer, which instantly drives up the cost and complicates any negotiation.

Like Liverpool with Gakpo, City want assurance of their own replacement before they consider letting him go. For Spurs, that means waiting out two of Europe’s most powerful clubs while trying to keep their own momentum alive.

Romero wanted in Spain and Italy

While Tottenham chase attacking fireworks, a storm is quietly building at the back. Atletico Madrid and Inter both remain interested in Cristian Romero, the Spurs captain and defensive cornerstone.

Inside the club, there is an expectation that Romero could leave this summer, just a year after he was handed the armband and signed a new deal. De Zerbi has already been in contact with the Argentina international and plans to discuss his future once Romero returns from his post-World Cup break.

The head coach has hinted he will not stand in Romero’s way if the defender pushes to go, a stance that keeps the door ajar for both Atletico and Inter.

Inter have already moved to strengthen at centre-back with the signing of John Stones, and any deal for Romero is seen as financially demanding. One potential trigger lies elsewhere in their squad: if Benjamin Pavard departs, it would both free up space and help the Italian side edge closer to meeting Spurs’ valuation.

So Tottenham find themselves pulled in two directions at once – trying to land a headline attacking “bomba” while fending off interest in their captain at the heart of defence.

If De Zerbi gets his winger and keeps his leader, this window becomes a statement. If he loses Romero while waiting on Liverpool and City to blink, the shape of his first season in north London could look very different.