Liverpool Firm on Gakpo as Spurs Target Savinho
Liverpool are expected to slam the door on Tottenham Hotspur’s move for Cody Gakpo, forcing Roberto De Zerbi to throw his weight behind an £85million push for Manchester City winger Savinho instead.
Liverpool dig in over Gakpo
Tottenham have circled Gakpo for weeks, seeing the Dutchman as a key part of De Zerbi’s overhaul of the forward line. Personal terms are already understood to be agreed, and the player has informed Liverpool he wants to leave. On paper, Spurs are ready: a £60m offer is being lined up for the 27-year-old.
Liverpool, though, are not behaving like a selling club.
The Anfield side are said to want at least £60m and potentially closer to £70m before they even consider a sale. Gakpo endured an inconsistent campaign last season but rebuilt his confidence on the biggest stage, scoring three times at the World Cup before the Netherlands’ shock exit to Morocco. That resurgence, coupled with his form in pre-season, has hardened Liverpool’s stance.
talkSPORT’s transfer reporter Alex Crook has poured cold water on the prospect of Gakpo rocking up in north London before the window shuts.
“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 said, via Last Word on Spurs. “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.”
So while Gakpo might be tempted, Liverpool’s belief in what he can become under Andoni Iraola looks set to block Spurs’ path.
De Zerbi turns the spotlight on Savinho
Denied an easy route to Gakpo, De Zerbi is ready to double down on his other wide target: Savinho.
The Italian has been clear with the Spurs hierarchy. He wants both Gakpo and Savinho, viewing them as flexible, high-level forwards who can operate across the line and give him the kind of tactical variety that defined his previous work. Tottenham have already reinforced defence and midfield; the flanks are next on his list.
Savinho has long been on their radar. Spurs held talks with City last summer but couldn’t shift the Premier League champions’ position. The Brazilian instead signed a new deal at the Etihad, a move that looked like the end of the chase.
It wasn’t.
Spurs have now agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old and reopened negotiations with City. This time, they are going in heavy. According to The Times, Tottenham are in discussions over a huge £85m deal, far above the £60–65m fee that had previously been expected.
Big money, big expectations
An £85m swing for Savinho would be another clear statement that Tottenham are prepared to spend aggressively to shape De Zerbi’s squad in his image. The arrivals of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have already underlined that point: this is a club willing to back its head coach with serious funds to chase European football again.
If Liverpool hold firm on Gakpo, the path is obvious. Spurs will throw everything at Savinho and trust that one marquee wide signing, rather than two, can power De Zerbi’s first season in charge.
The question now is simple: will Manchester City blink, or will Tottenham be forced back to the drawing board just as their new era gathers pace?
