Cody Gakpo Transfer: Tottenham's £70m Bid for Liverpool Star
Tottenham Hotspur have found their headline act for the final weeks of the window, and it is a familiar Premier League face. Cody Gakpo, whose Liverpool form sagged worryingly last season, has emerged as a serious target, with Spurs understood to be preparing an offer in the region of £70m to drag him to north London.
The message from Liverpool, though, is anything but straightforward.
The Mail insist Liverpool “have no plans to sell Gakpo” and stress that only a huge bid would even make them think twice. The Athletic go harder on the line that Liverpool “have no intention of selling” – then immediately concede that his value will be judged against other business in this market, including Morgan Rogers’ move to Chelsea. The stance is clear enough: they are not pushing him out, but there is a number. Tottenham will have to find it.
Ange Postecoglou’s side, newly cashed-up and increasingly ambitious, would need that XXL chequebook again to make this one real. Liverpool, still reshaping their post-Jürgen Klopp attack, are in no mood to be lowballed for a 25-year-old forward they invested heavily in and still believe can be rehabilitated.
Mudryk market stirs as Lampard’s Coventry join the chase
While Spurs test Liverpool’s resolve, Chelsea face a different kind of decision over Mykhailo Mudryk. Fresh from the lifting of his doping ban, the winger has not been short of admirers.
According to the Mirror, “multiple Premier League clubs” have contacted Chelsea to explore a deal, with one name on record: Coventry City, now coached by Frank Lampard, the two-time former Chelsea manager. The Sun add that two more top-flight sides have made enquiries, with three European clubs also circling. No shortage of suitors. No shortage of uncertainty either over what Chelsea actually want to do.
The Mirror could not resist it, of course. Their piece on the scramble for the Ukrainian’s signature carries the inevitable, and admittedly excellent, headline: “Mud Fight”.
Coventry’s recruitment board are busy elsewhere too. They are among the clubs tracking Everton midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, joining “clubs in Italy”, Hull and Ipswich in the queue. Hull’s interest has already been flagged, and they are casting the net wide. A second bid for Augsburg’s Mert Kömür has reportedly been knocked back, underlining how tight this midfield market has become.
Arsenal push on Guimarães as big-game transfer plan takes shape
At the top end of the division, Arsenal have moved from admiration to action over Bruno Guimarães. As reported by the Guardian, the Gunners have opened formal negotiations with Newcastle for the Brazilian midfielder, with the clubs understood to be around £10m apart on valuation for the 28-year-old.
The Express go further, suggesting Arsenal “can complete as many as six transfer deals just this week”. That is a bold claim, but the names involved show the scale of their thinking.
On the incoming side, alongside Guimarães, Arsenal are credited with interest in Vinicius Júnior and Ferran Torres. Any move for Torres, though, looks complicated. Barcelona are said to want a new deal for the forward, while Paris Saint-Germain and Atlético Madrid have also been linked. That kind of competition, and Barca’s desire to keep him, makes a switch to the Emirates feel like a long shot rather than a live expectation.
There is movement the other way. Milan are keen on Gabriel Jesus, who has slipped down the pecking order in north London. Fábio Vieira and Christian Nørgaard are also described as unwanted as Arsenal try to streamline a bloated squad.
At the same time, the club’s recruitment team are hunting aggressively in the domestic youth market. Blackburn’s 18-year-old forward Igor Tyjon, Cardiff’s 16-year-old midfielder Axel Donczew and Crystal Palace prospect Mylo Bernard – a 16-year-old forward – are all on the list. Arsenal want the next wave in early, before prices explode.
West Ham eye Solomon and Parrott as Sunderland slam the door
Across London, West Ham’s search for attacking width and firepower is gathering pace. They have identified Tottenham winger Manor Solomon as a leading option and believe he could be prised away, but Fiorentina are also in the race. Talks are said to be under way, and the Hammers will need to move decisively if they want to convince both Spurs and the player.
One avenue has already closed. Sunderland have resolved not to sell Wilson Isidor to West Ham, forcing the London club to look elsewhere for a striker. Their response has been to line up an £18m bid for AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott.
That pursuit will not be simple either. Porto, Como, Ajax, Real Betis and PSV Eindhoven are all in the frame for Parrott, setting up a crowded contest for the 22-year-old’s signature. West Ham want a forward who can grow with them. Europe’s middle class and elite want exactly the same thing.
The clock is ticking, the chequebooks are open, and the market is starting to bite.
