One Tottenham summer transfer target has just shown why Spurs are keen on bringing him to north London after a top‑class matchweek one display.
The opening weekend of the 26-27 Premier League season is one Tottenham Hotspur would want to forget as the Lilywhites suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat against Brentford.
It was a disappointing outing for Spurs, with the game at the Gtech Community Stadium exposing several weaknesses in Roberto De Zerbi‘s side.
A lack of firepower up front was one obvious weakness as Tottenham failed to find the back of the net despite having two big chances in the clash.
Spurs have since looked to address their attacking frailties with the Lilywhites now closing in on deals for Savinho and Omar Marmoush.
However, one of their other forward targets this summer showed just why Tottenham are keen on his services.
Cody Gakpo shows Tottenham what they are missing
Liverpool came up against Newcastle United in their opening game of the 26-27 Premier League season, and were held to a 2-2 draw. But it could have been a defeat for the Reds, who found themselves behind twice at St James’ Park.
A 55th-minute equaliser from Cody Gakpo saw Iraola’s side cancel out Elanga’s 5th-minute opener, before Szoboszlai ensured Liverpool walked away with a point after converting from the spot in the final minutes of the game.
Tottenham will certainly have been watching with keen interest as their summer target Cody Gakpo impressed throughout the encounter.
The Dutchman showed exactly what he is about, as he was rated the best player in the game against Newcastle by FotMob, receiving an 8.4 match rating.
His rating was backed up by his underlying numbers, with Gakpo ranking first for several key metrics.
According to FotMob, Gakpo created the joint-most chances (3), had the most touches (10) in the opposition box and took the most shots (6).
| Metric | Gakpo’s stats |
|---|---|
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Top speed | 33.1 km/h |
| Distance covered | 9.3 km |
| Accurate passes | 20/28 (71%) |
| Chances created | 3 |
| Defensive contributions | 12 |
| Touches | 58 |
| Touches in opposition box | 10 |
| Passes into final third | 4 |
| Line-breaking passes | 9 |
| Ground duels won | 6/12 (50%) |
| Running | 1.5 km (16%) |
| Sprinting | 215 m (2%) |
| Number of sprints | 10 |
Gakpo’s clinicality is something Spurs need
Liverpool reportedly want £72m to sell Gakpo to Tottenham this summer. Of course, Spurs could well have done with his clinical finishing and creativity in their encounter against Brentford.
The Lilywhites did create a couple of good chances, with the best ones falling to Mikey Moore, who failed to convert. One would expect Gakpo to have at least scored one of those three chances.
Spurs lack goals from wide areas, and it is no surprise the Dutchman is on their radar as he is capable of not only scoring but also assisting.
After such a top display against Newcastle, it remains to be seen whether Liverpool would sanction a sale. However, reports suggest that if Bradley Barcola moves to Merseyside, Gakpo would then be allowed to decide on his future.