Tottenham are already in talks with Liverpool over Cody Gakpo, but the move is not close to landing. Fabrizio Romano has said Tottenham appreciate him, while Liverpool are not opening the door to an exit at the moment. The story is still about whether the Premier League runners-up are willing to listen, not about a deal being done.

Liverpool's stance on Gakpo

Romano put it plainly: "There is an appreciation from Tottenham for Cody Gakpo. That's true. He is one of the players they appreciate."

He added: "At the moment, the doors are not open, so Liverpool are not negotiating for an exit of Gakpo."

That leaves Liverpool in the stronger position for now. Tottenham can admire the player and keep calling, but there is no sign yet that Liverpool are prepared to turn interest into a sale. De Zerbi wants to enhance Tottenham's attack and target the left flank in his 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 setup, which explains why a left-sided forward is on the list.

Gakpo's Liverpool output

The reason this keeps coming back is obvious enough. Gakpo scored 18 goals and provided 7 assists across 49 games in Liverpool's 2024-25 title-winning campaign, then his output fell to 9 goals and 6 assists last season despite playing three more matches. He has 50 goals in 180 appearances for Liverpool, and is only the second Dutchman after Dirk Kuyt to reach that mark for the club.

Gakpo's own words also show why the fit debate is alive. He said: "It's different where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have."

Virgil van Dijk was even more direct about what he brings. "He is an outstanding footballer. He works so hard for the team, he's disciplined and his quality stands out - his crosses, his assists, his goals," he said.

So the issue is not whether Gakpo can produce. It is whether Liverpool still see him as part of the core attack while Tottenham keep testing the market. For now, the club line is firmer than the suitor's interest, and that is where the summer stands.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →