Tottenham Hotspur is pursuing a transfer for Liverpool’s forward Cody Gakpo as manager Roberto de Zerbi works on reshaping his squad.

However, any potential deal faces significant challenges. Liverpool is hesitant to diminish their attacking strength, especially after Mohamed Salah’s departure, while Hugo Ekitike continues to recover from an Achilles injury.

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In addition, Liverpool is looking to acquire Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. Even with Barcola on board, losing Gakpo would take away one of their most experienced attackers.

So, what drives Spurs’ interest? What do the statistics reveal about Gakpo’s potential contributions to De Zerbi’s team?

A Tactical Fit for De Zerbi?

While Gakpo is primarily recognized as a left winger, he offers much more in terms of tactical versatility.

Though he has mainly played on the left for Liverpool, the Netherlands international has also played as a central striker, false nine, and second forward. Reports indicate De Zerbi sees him as someone who can operate centrally, linking play and facilitating runs by teammates.

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This profile aligns with De Zerbi’s style of play. Instead of relying on a classic penalty-box striker, he often expects his centre forward to move out of traditional spaces to engage with midfielders and create room for wingers to advance. Gakpo’s technical skill, close control, and positional awareness make him well-suited for this role while still providing depth on the left.

His adaptability would also offer Tottenham essential cover in various positions. Dominic Solanke and Mathys Tel are both natural central forwards, but they lack the fluidity to transition effectively between wing and central roles.

The Underlying Numbers Remain Strong

Gakpo’s 2025-26 season sparked mixed feelings among Liverpool fans, as he tallied only seven Premier League goals, his lowest in a full season at Anfield.

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However, his underlying statistics tell a much more positive story. Despite Liverpool’s struggles, Gakpo was one of Europe’s most effective wide forwards in terms of creating scoring chances. Only seven wingers in Europe’s top five leagues averaged more touches in the opponent’s penalty area (2.2 per 90 minutes) than Gakpo did, and he ranked in the top 10 for open-play shots and chances created.

Comparing Gakpo to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues highlights his strengths. He ranked in the 98th percentile for shot frequency, the 96th percentile for advanced play involvement, and the 91st percentile for box threat, indicating he is highly effective at getting involved in dangerous situations.

His aggressiveness in attacking spaces behind defenses also stands out. Gakpo was caught offside 30 times in the Premier League last season, more than any other player, showing he consistently seeks scoring opportunities by running beyond the last defender rather than merely waiting for the ball.

While his previous season was challenging, he managed an impressive goal record during Liverpool’s title-winning campaign in 2024-25, netting 18 goals in all competitions.

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Better Than Spurs’ Current Options?

The comparison with Tottenham’s current forwards underscores Spurs’ interest in Gakpo.

He finished last season with a higher expected-goals total (8.59), a greater number of shots (87), more assists (five), and more big chances created (10) than any of Spurs’ forward options, despite competing in a Liverpool side that struggled, finishing fifth in the Premier League.

Although Richarlison scored more league goals, he had 26 fewer shot attempts and created only half as many big chances. Solanke, restricted by injury, managed just 20 shots with one big chance created, while Tel also underperformed in multiple key attacking statistics. Randal Kolo Muani, who spent last season on loan at Spurs before moving to Juventus, similarly fell short of Gakpo’s output.

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The differences extend beyond goals and shots. Gakpo had 187 touches in the opposition penalty area, compared to 125 for Richarlison, 68 for Tel, and 55 for Solanke. His 4.17 expected assists from open play also surpassed that of the other three players, emphasizing his capability to create goal-scoring opportunities and score himself.

Gakpo also adds value defensively. He regained possession 87 times, including 45 times in the middle third of the field, and made 13 interceptions—totals higher than those for Richarlison, Tel, and Solanke. While Tel completed a higher number of dribbles (39 to Gakpo’s 34), Gakpo had a better success rate at 45.95%.

His overall profile reflects his skill set. Gakpo ranks in the 78th percentile for link-up play, the 75th for pass progression, and the 67th for creative threat, showing comfort in tight spaces and contributing to build-up play.

At 6ft 4in, he also offers a physical presence that is rare among wide forwards. Gakpo ranks in the 96th percentile for aerial volume compared to his positional peers in Europe’s top leagues, making him well-equipped to contest aerial balls, providing another dimension for Tottenham against packed defenses.

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Why Liverpool Are Reluctant to Sell

These qualities illustrate why Liverpool is not actively seeking to sell Gakpo.

Despite some frustration with his performances last season, Gakpo remains one of the few established forwards in Liverpool’s squad. Parting with both him and Salah in the same transfer window would considerably weaken Liverpool’s attacking options, especially while Ekitike is recovering from injury. Even if the Reds secure Barcola, replacing Gakpo’s proven quality and skill set would be challenging.

Furthermore, Liverpool knows Gakpo consistently performs well in the Premier League.

Since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, Gakpo has maintained a steady scoring record: seven, eight, 10, and seven league goals across his four seasons at Anfield, contributing numerous assists as well. Since November 2024, only Salah has scored more Premier League goals for Liverpool than Gakpo’s total of 17, and only Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai have more intentional assists than his five. His output has remained reliably consistent across various managerial changes and attacking roles.

For Tottenham, the combination of dependability and versatility is precisely what makes Gakpo appealing. While his seven league goals last season might not appear standout, the underlying metrics portray him differently. Gakpo continues to create chances at an elite level, threatening opposition goals consistently and offering tactical flexibility that few forwards can provide.

Whether Tottenham can convince Liverpool to sell one of their most experienced attackers remains uncertain. However, if De Zerbi seeks a player capable of contributing across the front line while consistently posing a goal threat, the data supports Spurs’ interest in Gakpo.