Cody Gakpo has agreed on personal terms with his new club just hours after Liverpool’s draw against Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool winger Cody Gakpo has made up his mind about which club he wants to join, just hours after helping the Reds secure a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest.
After scoring in their opening game against Newcastle United, Gakpo set up Alexander Isak for his first goal of the season during Saturday’s home draw. Manager Andoni Iraola moved Gakpo to the right wing, with new signing Victor Munoz on the left. Gakpo stood out as one of the few bright spots in another unpredictable match.
Unlike many teammates, the 27-year-old has had a strong start to the Premier League season, but that hasn’t stopped talk about his future. This summer, there were reports that Gakpo might leave Anfield. After Liverpool agreed to spend a huge £123 million on Bradley Barcola, many thought Barcola’s arrival could mean Gakpo would move on.
Barcola is about to complete his medical ahead of a five-year contract with Liverpool, and Iraola is also looking for another winger now that Barcola has joined. Gakpo knows this situation and understands he might get less playing time, which has caught the attention of Premier League rivals Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham sees Gakpo as a great addition to their attack during a busy summer spending period. Manchester City, meanwhile, wants him to strengthen their squad after losing Savinho and Omar Marmoush to Spurs.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Liverpool gave Gakpo three choices: stay and fight for his spot, join Roberto De Zerbi’s project at Spurs, or move to Manchester City. Ornstein says Gakpo has chosen City, and all parties are now in talks to agree on the deal.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano added that City plans to offer £85 million for Gakpo and will let him go once they find a replacement.
Liverpool signed Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven in December 2022 for an initial £37 million, which could rise to £44 million with extras. The forward has been a bit up and down, sometimes frustrating fans with his final touches, but he still has scored 51 goals and assisted 24 times in 182 games for the Reds.
Manager Enzo Maresca values players who are versatile, and Gakpo fits the bill perfectly. Over his three-and-a-half years at Liverpool, the Dutchman has shown he can play on either wing or as a central striker. This season alone, he’s played both right and left wing, which will please Man City’s boss, who likes to use players in different positions.
For example, Antoine Semenyo started on the right wing in a comeback win against Bournemouth but was switched to the left in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace, causing trouble for opponents. Adding Gakpo to this mix gives Maresca plenty of exciting attacking options and the chance to rotate his squad once the Champions League kicks off.