Tottenham's Ambitious Pursuit of Cody Gakpo Amid Liverpool's Stance

Roberto De Zerbi has wasted no time reshaping Tottenham in his own image. The defence has already been ripped up and rebuilt with three new arrivals, and now his gaze has moved to the sharp end of the pitch. Spurs want a statement signing to announce this new era. They are swinging big.

A £75million offer for Sandro Tonali has already been knocked back by Newcastle United, a bid that underlines just how aggressively Tottenham intend to back their new head coach. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is also on the radar as De Zerbi searches for a central midfielder who can both dictate and disrupt.

But the real intrigue lies further forward.

Spurs circle as Gakpo’s Liverpool future clouds

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over Savinho, a wide forward who fits the high-tempo, high-risk attacking blueprint De Zerbi thrives on. Yet another name has now been thrown into the mix, one that would reverberate around the Premier League: Cody Gakpo.

The 27-year-old has been a near constant presence for Liverpool in the league, missing only two games last season through injury. Arne Slot trusted him, naming him in the starting XI 32 times across his 36 Premier League appearances. Seven goals, five assists, and a goal involvement roughly every three games tell the story of a forward who quietly delivers.

He is not just doing it at club level either. Ronald Koeman has made him a key part of his Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico. Gakpo has started the tournament sharply, scoring twice and adding an assist in a ruthless 5-1 win over Sweden in the group stage. On the biggest stage, with the spotlight glaring, he is producing.

That is where the plot thickens.

Reports have suggested Liverpool are open to listening to offers this summer. They paid between £35million and £45million to bring him to Anfield in January 2023 and, if they do decide to cash in, they will expect at least to recoup that fee and likely turn a profit. His form for club and country only strengthens their hand.

Liverpool also hold every contractual advantage. Gakpo signed a new deal in the north west last summer, believed to be worth around £250,000 a week, and that contract still has four years left to run. Any club wanting him will have to pay a premium, not just for the player he is now, but for the security Liverpool enjoy.

Liverpool hold the cards – for now

The World Cup only adds another layer. Every goal, every assist, every sharp performance in front of a global audience nudges his valuation higher. For Liverpool, there is no rush. For his suitors, the clock is ticking.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Tottenham’s interest, but also the complexity of the chase. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he explained that Spurs and other clubs are exploring whether there is a path to a deal this summer. Liverpool, though, have yet to give any kind of green light. They remain happy with Gakpo and are in no mood to be pushed into a corner.

This is shaping up as a decision point at Anfield rather than in north London. Keep a versatile, productive forward who fits multiple systems under a new manager, or sell at a moment when his value is soaring?

What is clear is that it will not be resolved overnight. Romano stressed that nothing is expected to happen during the World Cup. Gakpo is not about to walk into Hotspur Way “today or tomorrow”. Tottenham’s interest is real, but the move, if it comes, will be one for later in the window.

For De Zerbi and Spurs, that poses a question of their own: how long are they willing to wait for a marquee forward if Liverpool decide to play hardball?