Tottenham's Ambitious Pursuit of Cody Gakpo
Tottenham’s new era under Roberto De Zerbi is not creeping into life. It is sprinting.
The Italian has already torn into his first priority: the defence. Three new signings are through the door to stiffen a backline that has too often looked fragile. But De Zerbi has never been a coach content with simply shutting games down. His football demands incision higher up the pitch, and Spurs are now pushing hard to reshape the heart and edge of their attack.
Spurs swing big in midfield
Tottenham’s hierarchy want a statement signing to anchor De Zerbi’s midfield. They have already tested Newcastle United’s resolve with a £75 million offer for Sandro Tonali, only to be firmly rebuffed. The message from Tyneside was clear: not enough.
That has not cooled Spurs’ ambition. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes remains on their radar as they search for the right profile to sit at the base of De Zerbi’s structure and feed the forwards he wants buzzing around the final third.
And that is where the focus sharpens now: the front line.
Gakpo enters the frame
With talks ongoing with Manchester City over a summer move for Savinho, another name has emerged from the Premier League’s elite: Cody Gakpo.
Tottenham have been linked with the Liverpool forward as De Zerbi looks for a versatile attacker who can both score and create. At 27, Gakpo is entering his prime and comes off a season in which he was almost a constant presence for Liverpool in the league. He missed only two matches through injury and started 32 of his 36 appearances under Arne Slot.
Seven goals. Five assists. A direct goal involvement roughly every three games. Not spectacular on paper, but steady, reliable output in a side packed with attacking options.
That consistency has carried onto the international stage.
World stage, rising stock
Ronald Koeman named Gakpo in his Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico, and the forward has wasted no time justifying that faith. He has made a sharp start to the tournament, scoring twice and providing an assist in a ruthless 5-1 dismantling of Sweden in the Dutch side’s second group match.
Performances like that travel quickly across boardrooms.
Liverpool’s stance on Gakpo has started to attract attention. His future at Anfield is not nailed down, with reports indicating the club are open to listening to offers this summer. They signed him in January 2023 for a fee believed to be between £35 million and £45 million and, if they do decide to sell, they will expect not only to recoup that investment but to turn a profit.
The timing could not be more delicate. Every goal, every assist in this World Cup adds another layer to his valuation.
Liverpool hold the cards
Any chase for Gakpo will not be straightforward. He only signed a new contract last summer, a deal understood to be worth around £250,000 per week, tying him to Liverpool for another four years.
That gives the Merseyside club a powerful hand. They are under no pressure to sell, no matter how many clubs circle. If Spurs want him, they will have to pay the kind of fee that makes Liverpool’s decision for them.
Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Tottenham’s interest is real. Speaking on his YouTube channel, he outlined the situation: clubs, including Spurs, are exploring whether a deal is possible, but Liverpool have yet to give the green light to any exit and remain happy with Gakpo.
The World Cup complicates everything. Players do not move mid-tournament. Clubs rarely make final calls while the spotlight is so intense and the stakes so high.
So this one will simmer.
Liverpool must decide whether Gakpo is central to Slot’s long-term plan or a saleable asset at the peak of his market. Tottenham, meanwhile, wait and work, trying to position themselves for the moment Anfield’s resolve is truly tested.
If De Zerbi gets his way, those early defensive reinforcements will be only the foundation. The real statement could yet arrive in the form of a Dutch forward walking out at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in white.
