Cody Gakpo: From Transfer Exit to Key Player for Liverpool
Liverpool have abandoned plans to cash in on Cody Gakpo after his high-profile move to Manchester City collapsed at the end of the summer window – and the Dutch forward is now being lined up as a central figure in Andoni Iraola’s plans.
For most of the summer, Gakpo looked like the sacrificial asset. Fresh from an impressive World Cup with the Netherlands and a sharp start to the 2026/27 campaign, he drew serious interest from Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool, for their part, were open to a sale if the numbers hit a certain level.
They did. Twice.
According to Dutch outlet Dagblad, Liverpool had already agreed the financial framework under which Gakpo could leave. Both City and Spurs were ready to meet a package worth around €100m. Gakpo chose City. The path seemed clear.
Then it slammed shut.
Dagblad reported that Gakpo held talks with Liverpool’s owners on Tuesday, partly to “clear the air” after the late collapse of his transfer. The winger had every reason to be stunned. An agreement was in place, the money was right, the buyer was chosen. Yet Liverpool pulled the plug and made it clear there would be no alternative move either. No City. No Spurs. No deal.
Instead of packing his bags, Gakpo now finds the club building around him.
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke says Liverpool have flipped their stance and expect the 25-year-old to play a “key” role for the rest of the season. The club did not bring in a replacement, and that decision was no accident. It was a statement.
“Gakpo will be a key player for Liverpool this season, definitely,” O’Rourke said, pointing to his early-season impact.
The forward scored against Newcastle on the opening weekend and followed it up with a smart assist against Nottingham Forest, underlining why Liverpool hesitated before cashing in.
The numbers tell only part of the story. What really swayed Liverpool, O’Rourke claims, was Gakpo’s versatility. He can operate off the left, through the middle, or in a deeper role. In a squad still evolving under Iraola, that flexibility is gold.
“He’s such a versatile player for Liverpool, and I think that’s the key, Liverpool didn’t really want to lose that,” O’Rourke added.
City were prepared to “pay top dollar” for him, but the Premier League champions’ money wasn’t enough to outweigh the tactical value he offers at Anfield.
The decision also shines a light on Iraola’s influence. According to O’Rourke, the head coach simply did not want to lose the Dutchman. With Liverpool targeting a return to the top of English football, Gakpo is viewed as central to any success they can carve out this season.
From almost being the headline departure of the window to becoming a cornerstone of the project, Gakpo’s summer swung violently. Now comes the real test: can he justify Liverpool’s late U-turn and make that “key” role his own when the season’s pressure really bites?
