Cody Gakpo's Transfer Saga: Liverpool's Change of Heart

Cody Gakpo’s path from Liverpool to Tottenham has hit a major snag, just as Spurs push on with an ambitious move for Manchester City winger Savinho.

The north London club have been circling Gakpo for weeks, seeing the Dutchman as a marquee attacking addition and a statement signing for Roberto De Zerbi’s new era. The deal would also have helped Liverpool raise funds for a double swoop on Paris Saint-Germain, with Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye together expected to cost around £155million.

Personal terms between Spurs and Gakpo were reported to be in place, with TEAMtalk revealing on Saturday that the forward had informed Liverpool of his desire to leave and that Tottenham were preparing an opening £60m bid.

Then came the pushback.

Liverpool stance stalls Gakpo chase

talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has poured cold water on the move, suggesting Liverpool are now leaning towards keeping Gakpo after an impressive summer under new boss Andoni Iraola.

“I don’t think it will happen,” Crook said, via Last Word on Spurs. “Speaking to sources at Liverpool they think he’s had a good pre-season under Iraola, they think he’s a player that Iraola can get the best out of.

“I think he probably would be open to the move, but at the moment that’s not one I expect to happen between now and deadline day.”

That stance clashes with a previous claim from CaughtOffside, which had suggested exits for both Gakpo and Curtis Jones were “getting closer”. For now, Liverpool’s internal view – and Iraola’s belief he can elevate Gakpo – appears to be the decisive factor.

De Zerbi, though, is clear on what he wants. The Italian is pushing for both Gakpo and Savinho. Reality may force a compromise.

Spurs turn up heat on Savinho deal

With the Gakpo route darkening, attention intensifies on Savinho. Tottenham remain locked in talks with Manchester City for the Brazilian, according to The Times, after failing to get a deal over the line last summer.

City are willing to sell despite handing the 22-year-old a new contract in October. The structure is simple: the Premier League champions will cash in at the right price.

That price is climbing.

The Daily Mail reported in July that Spurs were on the verge of finalising Savinho’s signing for around £65m at the second attempt. The Times now claim City are holding out for a significantly higher fee of £85m, forcing Tottenham to decide how far they are prepared to go.

Spurs have already agreed personal terms with Savinho, removing one obstacle. The only question left is the size of the cheque.

Big-money pattern continues

This is not a cautious window for Tottenham. Record-breaking deals for Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes have already underlined the club’s intent to back De Zerbi aggressively.

That spending pattern suggests Spurs are unlikely to walk away from Savinho purely on price, even if the £85m valuation feels inflated. For a club trying to close the gap at the top and reshape its attack, the Brazilian could become the flagship signing of the summer.

If Gakpo stays at Anfield and Savinho walks through the doors in north London instead, the story of Tottenham’s window shifts from double coup to single statement. The question now is whether that one signing will be enough for De Zerbi’s bold plans.