Tottenham’s Pursuit of Cody Gakpo: A Fool’s Errand?

Tottenham Hotspur know exactly who they want to sharpen Ange Postecoglou’s attack. Liverpool know exactly why they don’t want to play ball.

Cody Gakpo has been on Spurs’ radar all summer, a versatile forward with Premier League pedigree and numbers to back it up – seven goals and five assists in 36 league games last season. At 27 and fresh from signing a long-term deal at Anfield just a year ago, he sits right in that sweet spot of peak years and resale value.

Liverpool’s hard line

Inside Anfield, the stance is clear: Gakpo stays unless a major offer lands and, even then, only if Liverpool have already secured attacking reinforcements.

talkSPORT’s Ben Jacobs, speaking on Hawksbee & Baker, summed up the mood from Liverpool sources in blunt terms. For clubs trying to negotiate for Gakpo right now, he said, it has been described as a “fool’s errand”. Liverpool are prepared to reject everything until they know one, and ideally two, attack-minded players are coming in.

The logic is simple. Lose Gakpo without replacements and Liverpool weaken themselves in a market they believe is already distorted. Any Tottenham bid would be measured against the current inflated landscape, with recent big-money deals used to justify a firm, high valuation.

So Spurs can knock. Liverpool, for now, won’t answer.

Waiting for the window to move

There is, though, a crack in the door. Not now. Not this week. But later.

Jacobs indicated that Gakpo’s situation could “change a little bit” towards the middle or end of the window. If Liverpool get what they want in the market by mid-August and beyond, the conversation might shift. Until then, they are holding their line.

Bradley Barcola sits at the top of Liverpool’s attacking shortlist. An opening offer to Paris Saint-Germain is expected, and while personal terms are not yet agreed, the France international is understood to be keen on the move. Ibrahim Mbaye is also admired, among others, as Liverpool look at multiple options.

The feeling around Anfield is that two attackers would probably need to arrive before they even think about softening their position on Gakpo. One in, one out is not enough. Two in, then maybe.

Spurs push on two fronts

Tottenham, for their part, are not treating Gakpo as a fantasy target. Their interest is serious. And it does not come alone.

Alongside Gakpo, Spurs are also working on a deal for Savinho, another wide forward they see as a key piece in Postecoglou’s evolving front line. According to Jacobs, Gakpo would be in addition to Savinho, not instead of him.

Savinho has already made his feelings known. talkSPORT understands he has informed Manchester City that he wants to join Spurs this summer, having been keen on the move as far back as last year when Tottenham’s interest first surfaced.

The complication lies not with the player, but with City’s hierarchy.

Right now, City are not willing to sanction a sale. Their stance is to keep Savinho, even as they explore the possibility of signing another attacker themselves. Talks between City and Spurs have been ongoing throughout the summer, but this is less a question of price and more a question of City’s willingness to change their mind.

Tottenham can sense an opportunity. They just need City to blink.

A market of dominoes

All of this leaves Spurs caught in a familiar transfer-window chain reaction.

To move for Gakpo in any meaningful way, they need Liverpool to buy. For Savinho, they need City to soften. Liverpool, in turn, are trying to prise Barcola out of PSG and potentially add a second forward. City may yet go into the market for another attacker, which could reshape their view on Savinho.

One decision at the top of the food chain, and the rest could tumble.

For now, though, Tottenham are pushing against locked doors. Liverpool are braced to reject any early offers for Gakpo. City are standing firm over Savinho. The interest is real, the conversations are live, but the power still rests with the selling clubs.

The window will stretch on, the pressure will rise, and valuations will be tested. If Spurs are to get their man – or men – they may have to wait until the final weeks, when plans fray, nerves jangle and even the most resolute stances start to creak.