Tottenham Hotspur’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo could be entering a decisive stage, with Liverpool now moving closer to completing the attacking business that could finally open the door for the Dutchman.
With the 2026 summer transfer window deadline now only days away, Tottenham are expected to add one more wide player to their squad, having already completed deals for Savio and Omar Marmoush this week.
For much of the summer, that player has been Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, who has already agreed personal terms with Tottenham and is reportedly keen on making the switch after speaking with Roberto De Zerbi.
Manchester City surprisingly joined the race for the Dutchman this week, although a move to the Etihad is considered ‘unlikely at this stage’.
Liverpool have also been reluctant to open the door to his departure, particularly after Gakpo made a strong start to the new season under Andoni Iraola.
Tottenham have already seen a £60m bid rejected for the former PSV Eindhoven man and are now preparing a second offer, while recent developments at Liverpool could soon give Spurs the encouragement they need.
Liverpool make key move for second winger
Earlier this week, Fabrizio Romano claimed Liverpool would only consider selling Cody Gakpo if they brought in two wingers before the deadline, and it seems they have now made significant progress towards doing exactly that.
On Thursday morning, it was reported that Liverpool had reached a £120m agreement with Paris Saint-Germain for Bradley Barcola, and the Merseyside club have now immediately turned their attention to another wide player.
The Independent’s Miguel Delaney has reported that Liverpool are pursuing Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr after seeing an initial offer of around £50m rejected. The Senegal international is one of the two wide players Liverpool want to bring in, alongside Barcola.
If Liverpool manage to complete both deals, Gakpo’s position could change considerably before the deadline. Delaney also reports that Roberto De Zerbi is ‘insistent’ that Tottenham continue their pursuit of the Dutchman.
The Liverpool head coach was asked about Gakpo’s future on Thursday, to which he responded, “When the market is open, you cannot guarantee anything with anyone.”
Tottenham’s wild Cody Gakpo plan B
Tottenham are still pushing ahead with their preferred option, with transfer expert Nicolo Schira confirming on Tuesday that Spurs are preparing a second proposal for Gakpo, also revealing that Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk is the club’s ‘plan B’.
It may seem like a surprising alternative given Mudryk has not played competitive football since 2024 because of his suspension, which only ended this summer.
However, De Zerbi’s connection with Mudryk makes the interest easier to understand, with the Italian having worked with him at Shakhtar Donetsk and even revealing that the winger is ‘like a son’ to him.
For now, though, Gakpo remains the priority and the latest developments at Liverpool could be exactly what Tottenham need to get the deal moving.