Headline: Manchester City Eyes Cody Gakpo Amid Liverpool’s Transfer Strategy Shift
Cody Gakpo could become a focal point in Liverpool’s transfer dealings, with reports suggesting that Manchester City is weighing an £85 million bid for the Netherlands international.
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As noted by Paul Joyce of The Times, City has shown interest in the 27-year-old as Liverpool prepares to finalize the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
This acquisition significantly alters Liverpool’s attack dynamics.
Barcola Arrival Reshapes Liverpool Attack
Liverpool has agreed to a £123 million deal for Barcola, which includes £106 million guaranteed and a potential £17 million in bonuses. The France international is slated to undergo a medical examination before signing a five-year contract.
Barcola favors the left wing, a position Gakpo has occupied for much of his time at Liverpool.
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Photo: IMAGO
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Gakpo started on the right side during Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, where he assisted Alexander Isak’s goal before being substituted for Rio Ngumoha.
This situation has introduced several variables.
Tottenham Hotspur has kept tabs on Gakpo throughout the summer; however, Joyce indicates that Manchester City’s financial strength gives them an advantage in negotiations.
Manchester City Interest Creates Difficult Decision
After selling Sávio to Tottenham for £85 million—comprised of £75 million guaranteed and £10 million in bonuses—City has demonstrated a capability to pursue Gakpo.
Gakpo’s choice hinges on whether the opportunity at City aligns with his career goals.
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Enzo Maresca already has Jérémy Doku and Antoine Semenyo in wide positions. Moving from Liverpool due to Barcola potentially endangering his starting role, only to face another competition for minutes at Manchester City, may not be an easily justifiable move.
Gakpo’s performance offers insight into why Liverpool could command a substantial transfer fee. He netted 18 goals across all competitions during Liverpool’s Premier League-winning 2024-25 season, including a goal against Newcastle United last weekend.
His challenging 2025-26 season mirrored Liverpool’s overall decline rather than an individual failure.
Liverpool Could Create Another Transfer Problem
This aspect of Liverpool’s planning warrants careful examination.
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If Gakpo moves for approximately £85 million, it would be financially advantageous from a business standpoint. However, reports suggest Liverpool would require an additional winger to maintain depth.
Interest in Yankuba Minteh and Ismaïla Sarr has already emerged. Brighton has reportedly declined offers of £50 million and £60 million for Minteh, demanding around £80 million, while Sarr could be a less expensive option.
Therefore, Liverpool risks selling a reliable Premier League winger for £85 million, only to reinvest a substantial portion of that amount in a replacement.
This scenario appears unnecessarily complex.
Gakpo remains an effective, experienced player capable of fulfilling various attacking roles. The introduction of Barcola should foster competition rather than instigate further departures.
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Unless Gakpo strongly seeks a move to Manchester City, Liverpool should tread cautiously regarding this situation.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From the viewpoint of Liverpool supporters, frustration with the transfer strategy is hard to overlook.
Months of discussions surrounding squad enhancement should make Barcola’s arrival feel like a significant improvement. However, it seems every exciting addition spurs another conversation about potential exits.
Gakpo’s 18 goals during the title-winning season reflect his value, as he can play across multiple positions—all while being acclimated to the Premier League and showing capability for Liverpool.
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Trading him for £85 million while pursuing Minteh for near £80 million appears illogical.
While Minteh has promising attributes, Liverpool already has a proven player. Therefore, introducing another lengthy adaptation period and another costly negotiation may not be wise.
Liverpool needs depth; last season underscored the consequences of diminished performance and limited options. A competition lineup featuring Barcola, Gakpo, Isak, Ngumoha, Victor Muñoz, and others seems to form the depth necessary for success.
Allowing Gakpo to transfer to Manchester City could complicate matters further.
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Rather than enabling City to acquire a proven Premier League attacker because of Barcola’s arrival at Anfield, Liverpool should be prioritizing their desire to outpace City.
Should Gakpo express a desire to leave, Liverpool would need to reassess the situation. Until then, they should remain steadfast in their decision to retain him.
Keep the player. Preserve depth. Challenge Manchester City to seek their winger elsewhere.
Cody Gakpo could suddenly find himself at the centre of one of the most intriguing decisions of Liverpool’s transfer window, with Manchester City reportedly considering an £85million move for the Netherlands international.
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According to Paul Joyce of The Times, City have shown interest in the 27-year-old as Liverpool prepare to complete the signing of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain.
That arrival changes the equation considerably.
Barcola Arrival Reshapes Liverpool Attack
Liverpool have agreed a £123million package for Barcola, consisting of £106million guaranteed and another £17million in potential bonuses. The France international is expected to undergo his medical before signing a five-year contract.
Barcola prefers operating from the left, which has been Gakpo’s main position throughout much of his Liverpool career.
Photo: IMAGO
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Gakpo started from the right during Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest and created Alexander Isak’s goal before being replaced by Rio Ngumoha.
There are suddenly plenty of moving pieces.
Tottenham Hotspur have monitored Gakpo throughout the summer, although Joyce reports that Manchester City possess the financial strength required to seriously test Liverpool’s position.
Manchester City Interest Creates Difficult Decision
City recently sold Sávio to Tottenham for £85million, with £75million guaranteed and £10million in bonuses, so the financial capacity clearly exists.
Whether the sporting opportunity works for Gakpo requires greater consideration.
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Enzo Maresca already has Jérémy Doku and Antoine Semenyo available in wide areas. Moving from Liverpool because Barcola potentially threatens his starting position, only to encounter another fight for minutes at Manchester City, would hardly represent an obvious solution.
Gakpo’s numbers also explain why Liverpool can command a substantial fee. He contributed 18 goals across all competitions during Liverpool’s Premier League-winning 2024-25 campaign and scored against Newcastle United last weekend.
His difficult 2025-26 season reflected Liverpool’s collective decline as much as an individual collapse.
Liverpool Could Create Another Transfer Problem
This is where Liverpool’s planning deserves scrutiny.
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Selling Gakpo for somewhere around £85million would represent excellent business when viewed purely through the accounting lens. Yet Joyce reports Liverpool would then need another winger.
Yankuba Minteh and Ismaïla Sarr have already attracted Liverpool’s interest. Brighton have rejected offers of £50million and £60million for Minteh and reportedly want closer to £80million, while Sarr would probably cost less.
Liverpool could therefore sell a proven Premier League winger for £85million, then immediately spend much of that money replacing him.
That feels unnecessarily complicated.
Gakpo remains productive, experienced and capable of covering multiple attacking positions. Barcola’s arrival should increase competition rather than automatically trigger another departure.
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Unless Gakpo actively pushes for Manchester City, Liverpool should be extremely cautious about allowing this one to develop.
Our View – Anfield Index Analysis
From a Liverpool supporter’s perspective, this is where frustration with the recruitment strategy starts creeping in again.
We have spent months talking about strengthening the squad. Barcola arriving for £123million should feel like Liverpool adding another elite attacking option. Why does every exciting arrival seemingly have to generate another conversation about somebody leaving?
Gakpo scored 18 goals during the title-winning season. He can play from the left, through the middle and, as we saw against Forest, from the right. He already understands the Premier League and has demonstrated that he can produce for Liverpool.
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Selling him for £85million and then chasing Minteh for something approaching £80million makes very little sense to me.
Minteh has qualities and significant potential, but Liverpool already possess the established player. Why introduce another adaptation period and another expensive negotiation?
Liverpool need depth. Last season showed exactly what happens when performances drop and options become limited. Barcola, Gakpo, Isak, Ngumoha, Victor Muñoz and others competing for attacking positions sounds like the sort of depth Liverpool should be building.
And selling Gakpo to Manchester City would make this even harder to stomach.
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Liverpool should be trying to finish above City, not handing them a proven Premier League attacker because another winger has arrived at Anfield.
If Gakpo demands to leave, Liverpool have a different conversation to navigate. Until that happens, £85million would not tempt me.
Keep the player. Keep the depth. Make Manchester City find their winger somewhere else.
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