Tottenham's Pursuit of Cody Gakpo Hits Wall at Liverpool

Tottenham’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo has hit a hard, uncompromising wall at Anfield.

Spurs have tracked the Liverpool forward throughout the summer, sounding out the possibility of prising him away, but the message coming back from Merseyside is blunt: don’t bother knocking unless you’re bringing a huge offer – and even then, not yet.

Gakpo, who hit seven goals and five assists in 36 Premier League games last season, signed a new long-term contract only a year ago after an impressive 2024/25 campaign. Liverpool see him as part of their core, not a convenient sale to fund a rebuild.

Their stance is clear. They want to keep him. They will keep him, unless the market and their own recruitment plans shift dramatically.

Liverpool dig in

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Hawksbee & Baker, Ben Jacobs laid out the landscape around the Dutch international.

Liverpool, he said, have no intention of entertaining bids for Gakpo until they have brought in at least one, and more likely two, attack-minded players. Until that happens, any club trying to negotiate is wasting its time.

Behind the scenes, one phrase keeps cropping up. A “fool’s errand”. That’s how sources have described attempts to open talks for Gakpo at this stage of the window. Every offer will be rejected until Liverpool know reinforcements are through the door.

They also intend to lean on the current, inflated market to defend a high valuation if Spurs do eventually test their resolve, pointing to recent big-money deals as the benchmark rather than the exception.

The timing matters. Jacobs suggested that only as the window moves into mid-August and beyond, and only if Liverpool land what they need in attack, could Gakpo’s situation “change a little bit”. Until then, the door stays bolted.

Barcola at the centre of Liverpool’s plan

The first key piece in that puzzle is Bradley Barcola.

Liverpool are expected to table an opening offer to Paris Saint-Germain for the France international. Personal terms are not yet agreed, but Barcola is understood to be keen on the move, a crucial factor as Liverpool try to reshape their forward line without weakening it.

Barcola is viewed as the top attacking target. Ibrahim Mbaye is also on the list, among others, as Liverpool explore multiple options to ensure they are not left short if they sanction any major departure.

Jacobs’ read is that two attackers would likely need to arrive before Liverpool even consider softening their stance on Gakpo. One in, one out will not cut it.

Until that double deal – or something close to it – materialises, Gakpo remains firmly in red.

Spurs push on two fronts

Tottenham, though, are not backing off.

Their interest in Gakpo is serious and long-standing, but it is not their only major play in the market. Spurs are also working on a move for Savinho, another key attacking target who would come in alongside, not instead of, Gakpo.

Savinho has already made his intentions clear. talkSPORT understands he has informed Manchester City he wants to join Spurs this summer, a stance he also held a year ago when Tottenham’s interest first surfaced.

The problem for him, and for Spurs, lies in Manchester.

City’s board currently do not want to sell. Their position is firm for now, even as they continue to explore the possibility of signing another attacker themselves. Talks between City and Spurs have rolled on throughout the summer without a breakthrough.

For Savinho, the move hinges less on Tottenham’s finances and more on City’s willingness to loosen their grip and line up a replacement. Until that happens, the deal stays stuck in neutral.

A window that could explode late

Tottenham’s attacking rebuild is ambitious, targeted and, at the moment, heavily dependent on other clubs blinking first.

Liverpool must land Barcola and at least one more forward before Gakpo’s name can even be brought to the table with any hope. City must shift their stance on Savinho before Spurs can unlock that deal.

For now, Spurs are circling, waiting, pushing where they can. Liverpool and City hold the cards.

The question is simple: when the window hits its frantic final weeks, who flinches first?