Tottenham Targets Cody Gakpo Amid Liverpool Standoff

Tottenham’s hunt for a headline forward has led them to an ambitious target: Cody Gakpo.

Roberto De Zerbi, already deep into a radical reshaping of Spurs, wants at least one more wide attacker to crown a summer in which the midfield and defence have been heavily upgraded. The Italian has been teasing a “bomba” signing. Gakpo fits the profile – and the price bracket – of exactly that kind of move.

Spurs circle Gakpo – but Liverpool hold the cards

Tottenham have registered their interest in the Liverpool forward, who remains one of the more seasoned attackers in Andoni Iraola’s squad. Gakpo’s versatility is central to his appeal: he can operate off the flank, slide inside as a second striker, and cover through the middle at a time when Liverpool are short up front with Hugo Ekitike still rehabbing an Achilles injury.

That flexibility is precisely why Liverpool will not let him go easily.

The Netherlands international has four years left on his contract and would command a significant fee. Liverpool are not prepared to sanction his departure unless a replacement is secured first. They want cover, not a hole in the squad.

Their primary target is Bradley Barcola. Liverpool are expected to make a formal move for the Paris Saint-Germain winger, but PSG value the 23-year-old at £145m, a figure that turns any negotiation into a high-wire act. Until that situation shifts, Gakpo remains locked in at Anfield.

If Liverpool did cash in on Gakpo and landed Barcola, the depth chart out wide would look strikingly young. Teenager Rio Ngumoha and new signing Victor Munoz would be the other options on the wing, underlining why the club are proceeding cautiously.

Savinho on the radar as Spurs weigh options

Gakpo is not the only wide attacker on Tottenham’s list.

Spurs have also explored a deal for Manchester City winger Savinho. The Brazilian wants to leave and join De Zerbi’s project, and City are fully aware of his stance. But no bid has arrived yet, and without a formal offer, there is no trigger for City to act.

Even if Spurs move, that negotiation will not be straightforward either. Savinho signed a new contract last summer, strengthening City’s hand and pushing his price up. As with Liverpool and Gakpo, City would also want to be sure of a replacement before opening the exit door.

Two targets, two complicated deals. The kind of market Spurs have chosen to operate in.

De Zerbi’s “bomba” promise

De Zerbi has been open about his plans. Tottenham, he insists, are not done.

Spurs have already spent £237m this summer, headlined by the £100m club-record signing of Sandro Tonali and the £85m arrival of Mateus Fernandes. Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have also come through the door, building the spine of a side that looks nothing like the one that ended last season.

“The transfer market, it’s not finished for sure, but we completed 60 per cent of our project in the transfer market. Now we have another bomba!” he told football.london last week.

He confirmed the incoming player will be an attacker. Asked how close the deal was, he replied: “I hope, but it’s not finished for sure.”

De Zerbi has floated the idea of two or three more signings before the window closes. “I think two, maybe three,” he said. The message is clear: this is still a work in progress, and the front line is the next area to be sharpened.

The Italian has also tried to cool the hysteria around his “bomba” comment, explaining that the word carries a different nuance in his native language.

“Bomba in Italian is different from bomba in English. You can write what you want, no problem, no pressure. But I said we have to complete the transfer market.

“I think we have some other players to complete the squad, and the players will be here in the next few days; for me, they are top players.”

Pressed on the Italian meaning of “bomba”, he pointed to the deals already done: “I think Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, Senesi, Robertson are bomba. For me, top player for us.”

Even so, when a manager talks about top players still to come, and Spurs are knocking on doors for names like Gakpo and Savinho, expectations naturally rise.

Romero’s future hangs over Spurs’ rebuild

While Spurs chase firepower at the top end of the pitch, a different kind of saga is unfolding at the back.

Atletico Madrid and Inter remain keen on Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. Inside the club, there is an expectation that the Argentina international could leave this summer, just a year after being handed the armband and signing a new deal.

De Zerbi has already spoken with Romero and plans further talks when the defender returns from his post-World Cup break. In an interview with Football London, the Spurs boss hinted he would not stand in Romero’s way if he pushed for a move, a stance that adds another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile window.

Inter have moved early in central defence, bringing in John Stones, and a deal for Romero has long been viewed as financially complex. One possible trigger lies with Benjamin Pavard. His departure could free up both the funds and the squad space Inter need to meet Tottenham’s demands.

So Spurs sit at a crossroads. A “bomba” attacker on the horizon. A captain who may be edging towards the exit. A manager driving a bold, expensive overhaul.

If Gakpo or Savinho walk through the door and Romero walks out of it, the face of De Zerbi’s Tottenham will change again – and the stakes for this season will climb with it.