Three days before the close of the summer transfer window, Manchester City officially approached Liverpool's board with the aim of signing 27-year-old Dutch winger Cody Gakpo. According to BBC Sport, as cited by Sport RBC.UA, the first contact between the clubs was established on Saturday evening, turning the potential move into one of the biggest stories of the last days of the summer. Gakpo, who has become one of the Merseysiders' key attacking players over the past two seasons, is being considered by the "Citizens" as a priority reinforcement for the attack ahead of the decisive phase of the season.
Contact with Liverpool and Tottenham's role
According to available information, interest in Gakpo was also shown by London's Tottenham, which, reportedly, was even considered one of the favourites in the race for the player. However, the footballer himself, according to sources, is leaning towards a move to the former English champions. At Tottenham, as British media report, Gakpo's decision to turn down a move to them in favour of City caused genuine surprise, given that the "Spurs" were seen as one of the main contenders. Thus, Manchester City effectively got ahead of its rival at the final stage of negotiations, taking advantage of the player's personal position.
Why Gakpo is ready to leave: competition for a starting spot
The likelihood of the Dutchman's departure grew significantly after Liverpool agreed to the transfer of Bradley Barcola from PSG. Aware of the growing competition from Barcola, Víctor Muñoz and young Rio Ngumoha, Gakpo understands that he risks losing his status as a first-team starter. For a player accustomed to being one of the main trump cards in attack, this is a compelling argument in favour of a club change, where he is ready to guarantee regular playing time and a central role in the system.
The financial side and the "Reds'" conditions
From a financial standpoint, the sale of Gakpo for around £85m would look like a highly profitable deal for Liverpool: in January 2023 the club bought him from PSV for just £35m. During this time the player scored 33 goals in 91 Premier League matches and started the new season well, netting a goal and an assist in the first two rounds. At the same time, before giving the "green light" to the transfer, Liverpool is seeking to sign one more attacking player. Among the priority targets are Yankuba Minteh from Brighton and Ismaila Sarr from Crystal Palace.
Squad risks in Liverpool's attack
Gakpo's transfer also carries a significant squad risk for the Merseysiders. Hugo Ekitike is out until 2027 due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, and Alexander Isak continues to deal with the aftermath of injuries. Losing Gakpo against the backdrop of these problems could leave Liverpool with limited options in attack, which explains the club's caution: the board wants to ensure an adequate replacement is in place before letting go of the current leader.
Contradictory data
Publications from different outlets feature several figures for the deal's cost. Sport RBC.UA, citing BBC Sport, operates with a sum of around £85 million, while a number of Ukrainian and Russian sports portals (in particular, dynamo.kiev.ua) name Manchester City's offer at €100m. Formally these figures are close in parity, however they reflect a different currency and, possibly, a different stage of negotiations: £85m is the benchmark for Liverpool, while €100m is the amount, reportedly, being prepared by City. Until official confirmation by the clubs, the exact sum and currency of the deal remain a matter of discussion.
