Tottenham Targets Cody Gakpo Amid Liverpool Resistance

Tottenham are circling Cody Gakpo, but Liverpool are in no mood to open the door just yet.

Standard Sport understands Spurs hold a firm interest in the Dutch international, viewing him as a prime candidate to bolster their left flank and offer cover through the middle as a No9. Despite that, no formal talks have taken place with Liverpool over a summer move.

Liverpool’s stance is clear for now. With Mohamed Salah expected to depart and a major rebuild of their forward line under way, the club have no current plans to cash in on Gakpo. Their priority is to secure a replacement for Salah, with Paris Saint-Germain and France winger Bradley Barcola sitting at the top of their shortlist and reportedly valued at around £145million.

That figure underlines the scale of the operation at Anfield. Selling Gakpo would only be entertained if it fitted into a wider attacking reshuffle, and at present Liverpool are holding their ground.

The player’s position adds a twist. Caught Offside report that Gakpo is open to joining Spurs if the clubs can agree a fee. Football Insider have suggested an asking price in the region of £70m, a number that would test Tottenham’s resolve and Liverpool’s insistence that he is not for sale. Whether the Reds maintain that hard line as the window wears on is far from guaranteed.

Spurs, meanwhile, are not acting like a club ready to down tools. Roberto De Zerbi has already welcomed six new signings, with spending this summer reaching £237m, yet he believes the overhaul is far from complete. The head coach has made it clear the club’s transfer work is only about 60 per cent done and wants two or three more additions before the deadline.

A winger is high on that list. Another striker could follow. In that context, Gakpo is more than a luxury target; he fits a very specific brief. Left wing as a starting point, but with the physical profile and movement to operate centrally when required.

For now, it is a stand-off: Spurs intrigued, Gakpo seemingly receptive, Liverpool resistant. As the clock ticks towards the end of the window, something will have to give — the question is whether it will be Liverpool’s resolve, Tottenham’s budget, or the player’s patience.