Tottenham's Transfer Struggles: Gakpo Deal Stalls, Savinho Negotiations Heat Up

Tottenham’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo has hit a major snag, with a leading transfer reporter pouring cold water on the move – even as Spurs keep pushing hard to land Manchester City winger Savinho.

Gakpo deal stalls as Liverpool stance hardens

For weeks, Gakpo has been painted as a key attacking target for Tottenham. Spurs had moved decisively: personal terms were agreed with the Dutchman, as revealed by TEAMtalk, and the player had told Liverpool he wanted to leave. An opening bid of around £60m was being prepared.

The move suited Liverpool’s wider plan. Offloading Gakpo would help fund ambitious raids on Paris Saint-Germain for wingers Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, a double swoop expected to cost in the region of £155m.

Then came the twist.

Alex Crook of talkSPORT has now thrown serious doubt over the transfer. Speaking to Last Word on Spurs, Crook relayed Liverpool’s internal view of the situation and it was far from encouraging for Tottenham.

“I don’t think it will happen,” he said. “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.

“I think he probably would be open to the move, but at the moment that’s not one I expect to happen between now and deadline day.”

That line jars sharply with earlier claims from CaughtOffside, who suggested exits for both Gakpo and Curtis Jones were “getting closer”. Instead, Liverpool’s belief in Gakpo’s resurgence under new boss Andoni Iraola has become a major obstacle to Spurs’ plans.

Roberto De Zerbi, though, has been clear. He wants Gakpo. He also wants Savinho. The reality now is he may have to pick his battles.

Savinho talks intensify as City hold firm

While the Gakpo situation drifts, the Savinho chase is very much alive.

The Times report that Tottenham remain locked in negotiations with Manchester City for the Brazilian, a player they tried and failed to sign last summer. City, despite tying Savinho down to a new contract in October, are prepared to sell – but only on their terms.

Those terms are steep.

Back in July, the Daily Mail reported that Spurs were closing in on Savinho for £65m, a deal that would have represented a significant outlay but still felt within the bounds of reason for a 22-year-old of his profile.

City have since pushed the price up. According to The Times, they are now holding out for £85m, a figure that forces Spurs to decide just how far they are willing to go to land De Zerbi’s man.

Tottenham have already done the groundwork on the player side. Personal terms with Savinho are agreed. The winger wants the move. The only gap is between the two clubs’ valuations.

Spurs’ statement window faces its defining call

This is not a timid Spurs regime. The club have already underlined their intent with record-breaking moves for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, deals that signalled a willingness to operate in the financial bracket of Europe’s heavyweights.

That ambition is precisely why there is an expectation they will eventually meet City’s £85m demand for Savinho, even if the fee looks inflated. De Zerbi has made him a priority. The board have shown they will back their head coach.

So the picture is clear: Gakpo, once seemingly within reach, is now drifting away as Liverpool dig in and Iraola backs his man. Savinho, though, remains on the table – expensive, complicated, but possible.

Tottenham have started this window by acting like a club ready to step up a level. Whether they push all the way to land Savinho, and accept that he may be the one marquee forward addition instead of a Gakpo–Savinho double swoop, will tell everyone exactly how serious they are about staying there.