Cody Gakpo has informed Liverpool of his desire to leave Anfield this summer, according to Soccer News. Not a vague hint. Not agent noise. The player himself has made his position clear.
That changes the conversation entirely. Liverpool can hold firm on price — his contract runs until 2030, so there's no deadline pressure — but keeping a forward who has already mentally moved on rarely ends well. Iraola inherits a complicated situation before he's even taken a training session.
Tottenham are the name in the frame
Roberto De Zerbi's Spurs are reported to have "serious interest," which makes tactical sense. Gakpo can play left, centre, or in a free role behind the striker. De Zerbi tends to build around players with positional intelligence and pressing willingness rather than fixed-role specialists. Gakpo fits that profile cleanly.
Bayern Munich were previously linked, but their move for PSV's Ismael Saibari appears to have ended that thread. Newcastle have been mentioned without much substance behind it. Right now, Tottenham look like the only club with a real case.
The fee matters. At around €60m, Liverpool would need to take that seriously — especially if Iraola already has a different type of forward in mind. Anything softer than that and the club would be doing themselves a disservice on a player who contributed 18 goals and seven assists during the title-winning 2024/25 campaign.
A useful player, but never quite indispensable
That's the honest read on Gakpo at Liverpool. He delivered in the big season. Nine goals and six assists across 52 appearances in the following campaign is a decent enough return, but it's not the output of someone Liverpool are desperate to build around.
He has quality. Real quality. But there's a difference between a player who shapes matches and one who contributes to them. Too often Gakpo drifted into the latter category, particularly when the team needed someone to force a moment rather than wait for one.
- Contract until 2030 gives Liverpool total control on fee
- Tottenham lead reported interest under De Zerbi
- 18 goals, 7 assists in the 2024/25 title-winning season
- 9 goals, 6 assists across 52 appearances the following year
- Bayern Munich ruled out after Saibari move
If Tottenham are genuinely willing to meet Liverpool's valuation, this transfer could move quickly. Gakpo's exit odds will only shorten from here — the player has done the hardest part of any transfer saga by making his intentions known.
