Manchester United Pursue Cody Gakpo Amid Tottenham Interest
Manchester United’s long-standing admiration for Cody Gakpo has never really gone away. It just went quiet. Now, with uncertainty flickering around the Liverpool forward’s future, the idea of him crossing one of English football’s fiercest divides is back on the table – at least in theory.
The reality is far more complicated.
A stalled season, a reminder on the big stage
Gakpo’s second full season at Anfield did not follow the script Liverpool had in mind. His domestic numbers dipped: nine goals and six assists in 52 games, a noticeable drop from the 18 goals and seven assists he produced in 49 outings the year before.
The talent is not in question. On the biggest stage, he reminded everyone exactly who he is. At the World Cup, the Dutchman looked like the player Liverpool thought they had signed, scoring three goals and adding an assist in four matches before the Netherlands’ shock round-of-32 exit to Morocco.
That contrast sums up his Liverpool story so far: flashes of a top-level attacker, but not yet the relentless force they expected.
Liverpool’s need – and the growing noise
Liverpool still need Gakpo. They may even need more from him than ever.
With Hugo Ekitike sidelined until at least January after rupturing his Achilles, and Alexander Isak shouldering a heavy load through the middle, Gakpo is viewed as a player who could help centrally as well as from the left. That versatility makes him valuable at Anfield, even if his form has stuttered.
Yet the transfer market does not care much for internal plans. Gakpo’s name has landed on shortlists elsewhere. Tottenham Hotspur have placed him among their winger targets, and the idea of Manchester United reigniting their interest has resurfaced.
United’s old flame, Liverpool’s hard line
Ben Jacobs, speaking to The United Stand, underlined both United’s admiration and the sheer difficulty of any deal between the two rivals.
“He has always been somewhat appreciated, but we know that Man Utd and Liverpool just don’t really do business,” Jacobs said, cutting straight to the heart of it.
“So, whether or not that could possibly get off the ground, I’m not so sure.
“There are denials, despite recent reports in the Netherlands, that Gakpo has asked in any way, shape, or form to leave.
“So, Liverpool are quite calm about the situation, but Tottenham might consider that deal. And all we can say is Man Utd loved Gakpo before he joined Liverpool.
If Gakpo specifically asks to leave Liverpool, then let’s see whether Premier League clubs come forward. And it seems like Tottenham are the most concrete suitor.”
That calm at Liverpool is key. There is no active push to sell. No transfer request. No open stand-off. Just a player whose future is being weighed up by others more than by his own club.
The move that never was – and could be again
For United, Gakpo is the one that got away.
Erik ten Hag pushed hard in 2022. Fresh from lighting up PSV as their standout attacker, Gakpo looked tailor-made for United’s left flank and fluid front line. United circled, discussed, and planned.
Liverpool struck.
They agreed a £35 million deal in December, finalised it ahead of the January window, and stole in before United could turn admiration into action. Since then, United’s interest has never truly vanished. They have watched. Assessed. Waited.
Yet even now, with the door ever so slightly ajar, history is against them. Liverpool and United do not trade stars. Not in their primes. Not without a storm.
Spurs step to the front
While United’s name carries intrigue, Tottenham’s carries substance.
Spurs have placed Gakpo firmly on a list that also includes Rafael Leao, Savinho and Antonio Nusa. They are actively exploring wide options and see the 27-year-old as a realistic candidate, not just a fantasy name.
The numbers tell another part of the story. Liverpool are not putting Gakpo in the shop window, but they would listen if an offer around £70 million arrived. That is double what they paid. It is also the sort of fee that narrows the field to a handful of Premier League clubs.
Right now, Tottenham look the most willing to step forward.
United, by contrast, feel like the lurking presence in the background: a club that “loved Gakpo before he joined Liverpool”, as Jacobs put it, but one blocked by rivalry, politics and timing.
If Gakpo forces the issue and asks to leave, the market changes. If he stays quiet, Liverpool hold the cards and Tottenham remain the most realistic escape route.
For United, the question lingers: will they ever turn long-term admiration into a headline-grabbing move, or will Cody Gakpo become another reminder of a window that closed too soon?
