Tottenham refuse to abandon Gakpo pursuit
Liverpool are approaching the final days of the summer transfer window with an increasingly difficult decision to make over Cody Gakpo.
Tottenham Hotspur are understood to be preparing an improved offer for the Netherlands international after Liverpool rejected an opening bid worth approximately £60m. Manchester City have also entered the conversation, increasing the possibility of a late contest for one of Liverpool’s most versatile attackers.
SoccerNews.nl journalist Mounir Boualin, the original source of the Tottenham claim, reported that Spurs intend to return with another proposal before the market closes.
“The game is on regarding Cody Gakpo,” Boualin wrote on X. “Tottenham, which has been interested for some time, saw a first bid of 60 million pounds rejected. Spurs want to return this week with a new bid. And now Manchester City has shown interest as well.”
Tottenham’s interest is not believed to be a hurried response to the approaching deadline. The north London club have reportedly tracked Gakpo for several weeks and completed considerable groundwork on a possible transfer.
That preparation could make Tottenham particularly dangerous if Liverpool indicate that they are willing to negotiate. A rejected £60m bid is significant, but it does not necessarily represent the end of the discussion when a buying club has both time and room to improve its terms.
Het spel is op de wagen qua Cody Gakpo. Tottenham, dat al langere tijd geïnteresseerd is, zag een eerste bod van 60 miljoen pond afgewezen worden. Spurs willen deze week terugkeren met een nieuw bod. En nu is er dus ook de interesse van Manchester City. Nog acht dagen tot de… pic.twitter.com/NF95fMGrKC
— Mounir Boualin (@MounirBoualin) August 24, 2026
Manchester City add pressure to £60m decision
Manchester City’s emergence complicates the situation further. Reports suggest that City made contact with Gakpo’s representatives to communicate their interest, although no formal approach to Liverpool had been submitted at the time of the original report.
Any move from City would introduce a different dynamic. Tottenham could offer Gakpo a prominent place in their attack, while City would be able to present the opportunity to compete for major honours within one of the Premier League’s deepest squads.
Competition between two wealthy domestic rivals may strengthen Liverpool’s negotiating position. It could also force the club to make a decision more quickly than intended.
Liverpool have little reason to accept an offer simply because it exceeds £60m. Gakpo signed a five-year contract extension only 12 months ago, leaving him tied to the club until the summer of 2030. There is no contractual pressure to sell, and his importance to the squad cannot be measured only by a potential transfer fee.
A bidding contest would still test that stance. Every player has a valuation, particularly when an offer could provide the funds required to reshape more than one area of the squad.
Gakpo performance strengthens Liverpool position
Gakpo offered a timely reminder of his value by scoring in Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United. His finish was not merely an entry on the scoresheet. It demonstrated his capacity to influence matches at a time when uncertainty surrounds his future.
His tactical flexibility remains one of his greatest assets. Gakpo can operate from the left, lead the attack or move into narrower positions when Liverpool need greater physical presence between the lines. Selling him would therefore remove more than a single option from the team.
Liverpool’s head coach, Andoni Iraola, had already praised the forward’s work before the Newcastle match.
“Cody is doing really well,” Iraola said. “He understands the game. He is very smart and he was one of our best players in pre-season.”
Those comments underline the sporting cost of a sale. Although Tottenham may regard £60m as a compelling starting point, Liverpool must consider whether the money can secure a replacement capable of contributing immediately.
Bradley Barcola and Yankuba Minteh have been linked with moves to Liverpool, but interest is not the same as an agreement. Allowing Gakpo to leave before another high-quality winger is secured would expose the squad to an unnecessary risk.
Liverpool must control frantic transfer finale
Liverpool’s ideal outcome would be to settle their incoming business before making a final decision on Gakpo. Transfer windows rarely accommodate such tidy sequencing, however, and Tottenham’s planned return could accelerate events.
Spurs appear determined to test Liverpool’s resistance, while City’s interest ensures that Gakpo will have more than one option if a departure becomes possible. The player’s own preference will consequently carry considerable weight.
For Liverpool, the calculation involves money, timing and competitive ambition. Selling Gakpo to another Premier League club would strengthen a direct rival while depriving Iraola of a proven forward. Keeping him, meanwhile, would preserve continuity and signal that Liverpool will not allow their plans to be dictated by late pressure.
An improved Tottenham offer may ultimately move the conversation beyond the initial £60m figure. Liverpool can afford to listen, but they cannot afford to improvise.
Gakpo’s long contract places control in their hands. What they do with that control could define the final week of the window and shape the strength of their attack for the season ahead.
