Cody Gakpo takes a playful jab at Arne Slot as a Premier League team gets ready to make an ‘important offer’ for the Liverpool star.
Cody Gakpo seems to have taken a subtle jab at former Liverpool boss Arne Slot after shining at the World Cup. In one of the most thrilling games of the 2026 World Cup so far, the Netherlands secured their spot in the knockout rounds with a 5-1 win over Sweden.
Sunderland’s Brian Brobbey and Liverpool’s Gakpo each scored two goals, while West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville came off the bench to add a fifth for Ronald Koeman’s team. After the match, Gakpo was named FIFA Man of the Match, thanks to his two goals and an assist.
These goals brought his total for the national team to 23 in 52 games, showing time and again that he can shine on the big stage. After a tough season at Liverpool, Gakpo’s World Cup form made fans wonder what caused the sudden change.
In the 2025/26 season, he scored just nine goals in 52 games and often faced criticism from fans who wanted former manager Slot to bench him. When asked about his better form at the World Cup compared to Liverpool, Gakpo hinted at having more “freedom” with his national team.
“It’s a little bit different,” Gakpo said. “How I play here, where the coach wants me to be, the freedom I have than at the club. That’s it basically.”
During Slot’s time at Anfield, many fans were unhappy with the style of play, feeling it lacked excitement and goal threat. Gakpo’s words suggest some players felt the same way in the dressing room.
This might explain why Gakpo is said to be considering leaving Liverpool this summer. Reports say Tottenham Hotspur is ready to offer him a big deal. According to Nicolò Schira, Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi wants to sign Gakpo and is prepared to make a major offer.
The club is reportedly set to offer Gakpo a five-year contract running until 2031. Although he hasn’t accepted yet, reports say he’s thinking about the move since he’d likely be a key player at Spurs—something that may be uncertain at Liverpool after they signed Munoz and Diomande.