Tottenham’s £72m Dilemma: Will Liverpool Sell Cody Gakpo?

Tottenham have already thrown their weight around this summer. Around £230m has gone on Sandro Tonali, Matheus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka. That is not a rebuild; that is a reset.

And they are not done.

Ange Postecoglou’s squad still looks one attacker short. At least one winger or striker is expected to arrive before the window shuts, and the club’s gaze has drifted towards Anfield and the Etihad for answers.

Spurs Knock, Liverpool Listen

Cody Gakpo sits right in the middle of it.

Once off-limits, the Liverpool forward is now in play – but only on Liverpool’s terms. Fabrizio Romano reports that Tottenham are in “direct talks” with Gakpo’s camp over a move, with discussions having started from initial approaches back in July.

The deal stands on two pillars.

• First: Liverpool’s final decision.
• Second: the financial package and how their push for Bradley Barcola develops.

Back in July, Liverpool closed the door. Now, it is ajar.

The context matters. Liverpool are already light in wide areas. Gakpo endured a disappointing 2025/26 season, one of several underperformers, yet he remains a key asset with four years left on his contract. That contract length gives Andoni Iraola’s side a powerful bargaining position.

Liverpool have added Victor Munoz this summer but still lack a clear long-term heir to Mohamed Salah. That search has taken them towards Paris. The club are stepping up efforts to land Barcola and another PSG player, and, according to Romano, have been given the green light on one of those targets.

That pursuit has softened Liverpool’s stance on Gakpo. If Barcola arrives and the money is right, the Dutchman can go. If not, he stays.

The £72m Benchmark

Liverpool are not shy about the numbers.

Reports this week suggest they want around £72m for Gakpo, using Anthony Gordon’s £69m switch from Newcastle United to FC Barcelona as a reference point. In a market where wide forwards with Premier League experience are gold dust, that figure is no surprise.

For Tottenham, the equation is simple but brutal: is Gakpo worth a fee north of £70m in a window where they have already committed £230m? They are trying, Romano insists, but the structure and size of the offer will decide everything.

The pressure is now on Spurs’ hierarchy to decide how far they are willing to push.

Striker Search: Options On The Table

While Gakpo headlines the winger hunt, Tottenham’s recruitment team are also working on the centre-forward position. Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, revealed that the club are “exploring the possibility” of signing a striker and have already discussed several names internally.

Omar Marmoush is one of those under consideration.

Nicolas Jackson is another name on the list, but only that. Despite a swirl of reports over the last 24 hours, Romano is clear: there is nothing close, nothing imminent with Tottenham. Jackson is not a priority. No advanced negotiations, no breakthrough. Simply one of several options debated in meetings.

The more aggressive interest in Jackson is coming from elsewhere.

Villa, Emery and the Jackson Factor

Aston Villa are firmly in the picture for Nicolas Jackson.

Unai Emery’s side regard him as one of their priority attacking targets, but their pursuit is chained to budget. Villa have already taken Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea, which means they cannot bring in another Chelsea player on loan in this window. Any move for Jackson must be permanent.

That changes the stakes. The fee, the wages, the total package – all of it will dictate whether Villa can move from admiration to agreement.

One thing they do have is a powerful intangible: Emery’s relationship with Jackson. The pair worked together at Villarreal and maintain an excellent understanding. Emery would relish a reunion. If the finances fall into place, that bond could tilt the race.

A Window Balancing On Two Calls

For Tottenham, the final weeks of the window now hinge on two big calls: whether Liverpool truly commit to Barcola and open the door fully for Gakpo, and whether Spurs are prepared to meet a £72m valuation for a wide forward who still divides opinion after a flat season.

They have spent heavily. They have reshaped the spine.

Now comes the hardest part of any rebuild: finding the cutting edge that turns an ambitious squad into a ruthless team.