Liverpool have made their final decision on Cody Gakpo after sending in a new offer for the Premier League star.
Lots of people have been guessing about Cody Gakpo’s future this summer. The Dutch forward has been linked with moves away, but it looks like Liverpool have now made up their minds.
Both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City have been interested in signing the Dutch star in the last few weeks of the transfer window. At first, Spurs seemed the favorite, but recently Man City have taken the lead, especially after letting two of their forwards, Savio and Omar Marmoush, leave for Spurs. With fewer attackers, City see Gakpo as the perfect fit.
However, David Ornstein says Liverpool have turned down an £80 million bid from City to keep Gakpo at Anfield. Gakpo’s strong start to the season likely helped Liverpool and manager Andoni Iraola decide to hold on to him. He scored in Liverpool’s first game against Newcastle and made an assist in the next match versus Nottingham Forest.
This decision to keep Gakpo may complicate another transfer Liverpool are working on. They still want to add more Premier League players to strengthen their squad. Recently, they signed Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N’Guessan, and finally secured Bradley Barcola after a long effort.
But signing Barcola has filled up their allowed spots for non-homegrown players in the 25-man squad for the 2026/27 season. The Premier League rules say a homegrown player is someone trained at an English or Welsh club for at least three years before age 21, regardless of nationality. Under-21 players don’t count toward this limit.
Even so, Liverpool have made a second bid for Crystal Palace’s winger Ismalia Sarr, according to French website RMC Sport. Palace apparently rejected the offer. Sarr had a great season scoring 21 goals and making 2 assists in 45 games, and he seems eager to join Liverpool.
Because of Premier League rules, Liverpool couldn’t register Sarr unless a non-homegrown player leaves. Giorgi Mamardashvili is expected to move, with Nottingham Forest showing interest. This could explain why Liverpool brought in young Brughmans from Genk—to prepare for Mamardashvili’s likely departure.