Tottenham’s £72m Pursuit of Cody Gakpo: Will Liverpool Let Him Go?

Tottenham have already thrown their weight around this summer. Around £230m spent, a spine rebuilt, and a clear message sent: they intend to move with the heavyweights.

Sandro Tonali in midfield. Matheus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Martin Dubravka. It’s been a relentless window in north London. And yet, the most delicate part of their rebuild may still be ahead of them.

They want goals. They want width. They want a forward who can tilt big games.

Right now, that pursuit has led them straight to Anfield and Cody Gakpo.

Door Ajar at Anfield

For most of the summer, Liverpool’s stance on Gakpo felt simple enough: unavailable. With Mohamed Salah ageing and no like-for-like heir yet secured, weakening an already thin wide department looked reckless.

Gakpo’s own 2025/26 campaign didn’t help his case. He underperformed, part of a Liverpool attack that misfired too often. But even a struggling Gakpo remained more useful to the Reds than a hole in the squad and a cheque in the bank.

That calculation is starting to change.

Liverpool have already moved for Victor Munoz and are now accelerating their push for Bradley Barcola and another PSG attacker. One of those deals, Fabrizio Romano reports, has already been given the green light. With that, the conversation around Gakpo has shifted from “no chance” to “under the right conditions.”

Romano says Tottenham are now in direct talks with Gakpo’s camp over a summer move, following initial approaches in July. The key line? The transfer “depends on Liverpool decision,” which in turn hinges on two factors: the financial package and the club’s pursuit of Barcola.

The door that was slammed shut a month ago is now slightly open.

The Price of a Gamble

Liverpool are not in a weak position. Gakpo still has four years left on his contract. There is no urgent need to sell, no contract clock ticking loudly in the background.

So they’ve set the bar high.

Reports this week suggest Liverpool want around £72m for the Dutchman. Internally, they’ve pointed to Anthony Gordon’s £69m move from Newcastle United to FC Barcelona as a benchmark. If Gordon commands that kind of fee, Gakpo – with his versatility across the front line and still-considerable upside – will not be allowed to leave on the cheap.

For Spurs, that poses a question: how badly do they want him?

Andoni Iraola has already been backed heavily. Another marquee attacking signing at that price would push this window into truly elite territory in terms of outlay. Yet Tottenham know that if Barcola lands at Anfield and the numbers add up, Gakpo is there to be taken.

They are, as Romano put it, “trying.” The rest is a test of nerve and budget.

Spurs’ Other Front-Line Puzzle

Gakpo is not the only piece on Tottenham’s attacking board. The club also want a striker, someone to lead the line rather than operate off it.

Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, revealed that Spurs are “exploring the possibility” of signing a centre-forward before the window closes. Several names have been floated internally, with Omar Marmoush among those discussed.

Nicolas Jackson’s name has also been thrown into the mix, but here the picture is very different. Despite a flurry of reports in the last 24 hours, Romano insists there is “nothing close or imminent” between Tottenham and Chelsea for Jackson. He is not a priority, and there are no advanced negotiations. For now, he is just one of several ideas on a long list.

The more serious interest in Jackson is coming from elsewhere.

Villa, Emery and the Jackson Factor

Aston Villa have Jackson much higher on their agenda. He is considered one of their priority targets, but their move is trapped inside financial reality.

Villa have already brought in Alejandro Garnacho on loan from Chelsea, which triggers a hard rule: they cannot take another Chelsea player on loan in the same window. Any deal for Jackson would have to be permanent, and that means the fee has to fit within their spending capacity.

There is, however, one major card Villa can play – Unai Emery.

Emery and Jackson worked together at Villarreal and built an excellent relationship. Romano notes that Emery “would love” to work with him again. That kind of bond matters. When the numbers are tight and the offers are similar, players often follow the manager they trust.

So Jackson’s future, too, may come down to money and timing. Villa’s budget. Chelsea’s demands. Tottenham’s priorities.

A Window on a Knife-Edge

Tottenham’s summer has already been bold. The next few weeks will decide whether it becomes transformative.

They are deep in talks with Cody Gakpo’s camp, waiting on Liverpool’s pursuit of Bradley Barcola and the final shape of the financial package. They are weighing up options at striker, from Omar Marmoush to other, less-developed targets. They are watching Nicolas Jackson, but not chasing him.

Liverpool, for their part, must decide how much faith they still have in Gakpo – and whether Barcola’s arrival gives them the freedom to cash in.

One club wants to climb. The other wants to reload without slipping. Between them sits a £72m forward and a window running out of days.

Who blinks first?