Tottenham's Struggle for Cody Gakpo Amid Liverpool's Firm Stance

Tottenham’s chase for Cody Gakpo has hit a brick wall – and Liverpool are the ones laying the bricks.

The north London club have tracked the Dutch forward all summer, sensing an opportunity in a market where elite attackers are scarce and prices are spiralling. Gakpo, fresh from a productive Premier League season with seven goals and five assists in 36 games, looks like the kind of versatile, goal-hungry wide forward Ange Postecoglou can build around.

Liverpool, though, are in no mood to play along.

Liverpool dig in over Gakpo

Gakpo only signed a new long-term deal at Anfield 12 months ago, off the back of a strong 2024/25 campaign. That contract, and his trajectory, give Liverpool all the leverage they need.

Their stance is blunt: he stays, unless someone pays big – and even then, only if they’ve already brought in cover.

talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, speaking on Hawksbee & Baker, painted the picture from Liverpool’s side. The club’s preference is to keep Gakpo, and that will not change unless they add one, and ideally two, attack-minded players first. Until that happens, anyone trying to prise him away is wasting their time.

Behind the scenes, that view has been summed up in even harsher terms. Sources have described it as a “fool’s errand” to negotiate with Liverpool for Gakpo right now. Every bid, no matter how tempting, is expected to be knocked back until the club know at least one, and probably two, forwards are coming through the door.

Liverpool’s position is strengthened by the market itself. With fees for top attackers inflating, the club would point to recent blockbuster deals as a benchmark if Spurs ever do come calling with a formal offer. They know what they have – and they know what it costs to replace it.

Barcola and Mbaye at the heart of Liverpool’s plan

The stalemate around Gakpo is not just about Tottenham. It is tied directly to Liverpool’s own recruitment drive.

Bradley Barcola has emerged as their top attacking target. Liverpool are expected to table an opening bid to Paris Saint-Germain, with the France international understood to be keen on the move even though personal terms are not yet agreed.

There is also concrete interest in Ibrahim Mbaye, among other names on the list. The sense from those close to the situation is clear: two new forwards would likely need to arrive before Liverpool soften their stance on Gakpo in any meaningful way.

That timeline matters. Jacobs suggested any shift is more likely to come in mid-August or later, once Liverpool know where they stand in the market. Until then, Spurs are effectively stuck on the outside, looking in.

Tottenham’s interest, though, is not in doubt. They are serious about Gakpo and see him as a major attacking addition rather than an alternative to other targets. He is part of a broader plan.

Savinho, Man City, and the other half of Spurs’ puzzle

On the other side of that plan sits Savinho.

Spurs have been working on a deal for the Manchester City forward, and talkSPORT understands the player has informed City he wants the move this summer. That desire is not new; he was ready to make the switch a year ago when Tottenham first came knocking.

The problem is not Savinho. It is City.

For now, the Premier League champions are unwilling to sanction a sale. The club’s stance remains that they do not want to part with the forward, even though they could still explore bringing in another attacker of their own. Talks between City and Spurs have been ongoing throughout the summer, but nothing has broken the deadlock.

Crucially, the issue here is not the money. Tottenham are prepared to do a deal. What they need is a change of heart in Manchester – and that has not arrived yet.

Spurs wait while the market moves

So Tottenham find themselves in a familiar transfer-window bind. They are serious about Gakpo. They are pushing for Savinho. They are in dialogue with two of the game’s most powerful clubs, both of whom are under no pressure to sell and both of whom want their own business lined up first.

For Liverpool, the path is simple: land Barcola, secure another attacker such as Mbaye, then reassess. Only then does Gakpo’s situation even begin to shift.

For City, the call is more emotional. Hold firm on Savinho and keep a talent they rate, or cash in and rebuild again in attack.

Tottenham, caught between those decisions, can only keep pushing on both fronts and hope one door finally swings open before the window slams shut.