"There's been links in the last few days with Cody Gakpo. He is a name on Tottenham's list. Let's see how that develops." Ben Jacobs' line on talkSPORT is probably the clearest place to start, because it strips away most of the noise. Spurs like the player, but the story is still at the interest stage, and Liverpool are not behaving like a club ready to let him go.

Liverpool's stance on a Gakpo sale

Jacobs went further than just confirming interest. He said Liverpool "don't really have a desire to sell" and added that they have a "very high asking price" for Gakpo. That is the key point in this story. The problem for Tottenham is not proving they admire the player. It is getting Liverpool to even engage on terms that make a deal possible.

Fabrizio Romano has landed in much the same place. Speaking to GiveMeSport, he said: "Keep an eye on Tottenham for Cody Gakpo, because Tottenham have interest in the player. Then I can tell you that Liverpool, as of today, the beginning of July, are not opening doors to an exit. So, at the moment, the door is closed from Liverpool, but we have to see later on this summer, in case Tottenham really open talks by sending a proposal."

That leaves very little room for anyone to sell this as an advanced move. Interest is real. An agreed deal is not. Even open negotiations are being framed as something that would only happen if Tottenham put a serious proposal on the table.

There is a status gap between the two clubs as well. Tottenham finished 17th in the Premier League last season, while Liverpool finished 5th. That does not settle a transfer by itself, but it helps explain why Liverpool can hold a hard line and why Spurs would need to make a major pitch, financially and competitively, to change the conversation.

Tottenham's transfer mood after Tonali

The timing around this rumour matters because Tottenham have already shown they are willing to go big. On Monday morning, Spurs confirmed the arrival of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle in an official statement.

The reported fee was €115m, which Football Italia said made Tonali the most expensive Italian player ever. He arrives with plenty of mileage behind him too. Tonali spent three seasons at Newcastle, making 110 appearances, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists in all competitions.

That sort of deal changes the mood around Tottenham's summer, and it naturally fuels bigger links. But it still does not mean Liverpool are under pressure to cash in on Gakpo. The more sensible read is that Spurs are trying to add top-level names after a poor league finish, while Liverpool are setting a price and a negotiating stance that keep control on their side.

Jacobs' market point is relevant here, even if one example he used should be treated carefully. His broader argument was that the market is inflated and that Liverpool know it. That part fits the rest of the reporting. Tottenham may have spending power, yet spending power alone is not the same as access.

The gap between interest and a real chase

This is where some transfer stories get stretched too far. Tottenham can admire Gakpo, place him on a shortlist and still be a long way from signing him. Romano's wording about the door being closed, for now, is pretty blunt. Unless Spurs decide this is the move worth pushing hardest for, and unless they send the kind of offer Liverpool feel forced to consider, the story stays where it is.

Stan Collymore has questioned the appeal of choosing Tottenham over Liverpool at this stage, and that opinion will not be hard to find. Still, the bigger obstacle in the current reporting is not player ambition. It is Liverpool's refusal to open the door easily.

So yes, Tottenham's interest is real. It is just not advanced, and the club on the other side of the discussion has made that clear. Spurs have already landed one headline signing from Newcastle. Turning that into a deal for Gakpo would require much more than admiration in the first week of July.

FAQ

Will Tottenham sign Cody Gakpo from Liverpool this summer?

Right now it looks premature to talk about a signing. Ben Jacobs says Cody Gakpo is on Tottenham's list, while Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool are not opening the door to an exit at the beginning of July. The move is still at interest stage, and any progress would need Tottenham to send a serious proposal.

Why are Liverpool resisting a Cody Gakpo sale to Tottenham?

The reporting points to Liverpool's stance more than the player's. Jacobs said Liverpool do not really have a desire to sell and described Gakpo's asking price as very high in an inflated market. Romano's wording was similar, saying the door is closed for now unless Tottenham open talks with a proposal.

Has Tottenham already agreed a deal for Cody Gakpo?

No source here supports that. The consistent line from talkSPORT and Fabrizio Romano is that Tottenham have interest in Gakpo, but Liverpool are not open to letting him leave at this stage. There is no claim of an accepted bid or an agreed transfer.

What does Sandro Tonali's Tottenham move mean for their transfer plans?

It shows Tottenham are spending heavily and pushing for major upgrades. The club confirmed Tonali's transfer from Newcastle on Monday morning, and the reported fee was €115m. He arrives after 110 appearances, 10 goals and 10 assists for Newcastle, so Spurs have already made one statement signing before any Gakpo deal becomes realistic.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 7 outlets. How we work →