Cody Gakpo Open to Tottenham Move After Talks with De Zerbi
Cody Gakpo is no longer just on Tottenham’s radar. He has spoken to the manager, heard the pitch, and, according to those close to the situation, is now genuinely open to swapping Anfield for north London.
The Liverpool forward held direct talks with Spurs head coach Roberto De Zerbi last month, Dutch journalist Rik Elfrink reports. The conversation appears to have landed. The 27-year-old Netherlands international left those discussions receptive to the idea of joining Tottenham, with Liverpool increasingly prepared to listen at the right price.
Direct line to De Zerbi
Tottenham’s interest has been building for weeks. Voetbal International’s Joost Blaauwhof previously revealed that Spurs had formally registered their intent, with De Zerbi identifying Gakpo and Savinho as two very different but complementary options for his attack.
Elfrink has now filled in a crucial piece of the puzzle. Posting on X, he wrote that Gakpo had already spoken with De Zerbi last month and that “the conclusion was that he is definitely open to a transfer to Spurs. Liverpool now seems willing to go along with it. There's still good money in it for PSV, so interesting enough."
That call matters. Gakpo now knows exactly how De Zerbi would use him. Spurs know the player is open to their project. The foundations of a deal are there; the numbers will decide whether it gets built.
Liverpool’s price tag sets the tone
This is where Liverpool’s stance bites. SoccerNews report that Tottenham have already tested the waters with an opening offer just north of £60 million. Liverpool are expected to reject that figure.
The Merseyside club value Gakpo at around £70 million. For a player signed from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, that represents a sizeable profit and a clean piece of business on paper.
If Spurs are willing to climb towards that valuation, the negotiation could be relatively straightforward. Liverpool hold a strong hand. Gakpo is an established Premier League attacker, comfortable off the left, through the middle, or rotating across the frontline. There is no pressure to sell cheaply.
Barcola pursuit could unlock the deal
The more intriguing layer sits in Paris. Liverpool are pushing for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, with Andoni Iraola overseeing a major reshaping of his forward line.
If Liverpool make real progress for Barcola, Gakpo’s situation shifts again. Squad numbers, minutes, and wage structure all come into sharper focus. A sale at around £70 million would not just tidy up the books; it would help fund the next phase of Iraola’s rebuild.
PSV are watching closely too. Elfrink notes that the Dutch club would profit via the solidarity mechanism should Gakpo move to Spurs, giving them a financial interest in seeing the transfer go through.
High stakes for Liverpool – and a rival waiting
From Liverpool’s perspective, the logic is clear but risky. Cashing in on Gakpo at peak value makes sense if Barcola – or another elite attacker – is lined up and ready to walk through the door. The danger lies in completing the sale without the replacement secured.
Liverpool are already navigating a turbulent transition under Iraola. Mohamed Salah has gone. Removing another established forward, even one who can frustrate with inconsistency, is not a trivial decision.
Gakpo still offers goals, Premier League know-how and the kind of positional flexibility that managers lean on across a long, bruising season. Those traits do not sit on the shelf for long in this market.
There is also the uncomfortable reality that the buyer is Tottenham. De Zerbi clearly sees a key role for Gakpo; those early, direct conversations underline that. Liverpool must weigh the prospect of strengthening a direct Premier League rival while they themselves are still piecing together a new-look attack.
Tottenham, for their part, have made their move, spoken to the player and signalled intent. Gakpo is open. Liverpool are listening. The gap between £60 million and £70 million now looks like the only real barrier.
Whether Spurs choose to cross it could shape the attacking balance of two contenders for years to come.
