Cody Gakpo's Surprising Role at Liverpool After Transfer Collapse
Liverpool have shelved plans to cash in on Cody Gakpo and are now preparing to build around him after his big-money move to Manchester City collapsed late in the window.
The Dutch forward, fresh from an impressive World Cup and a sharp start to the 2026/27 season, spent much of the summer with one foot out of the door. Liverpool had quietly put him in the “saleable” bracket if a huge offer landed. It did. Twice.
Both Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur were willing to hit a package of around €100m, according to Dutch outlet Dagblad, matching the financial terms Liverpool had set for a possible exit. Gakpo chose City. The path looked clear. Then the door slammed shut.
At the last moment, Liverpool pulled back. No green light. No late compromise. And, as Dagblad reported, “it now appears that there will definitely be no other deal.”
Gakpo met the club’s owners on Tuesday, a conversation described as partly to “clear the air” after the dramatic U-turn. What looked like the end of his Anfield chapter has instead turned into a reset.
Now comes the twist: Liverpool’s “new plan” is to make him central.
From sale option to cornerstone
Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke says Gakpo is now expected to play a “key” role for the rest of the season, with Liverpool deciding not to sign a replacement and leaning heavily on his flexibility across the front line.
“Gakpo will be a key player for Liverpool this season, definitely,” O’Rourke said, pointing to his output already: a goal against Newcastle on the opening weekend, followed by a well-worked assist against Nottingham Forest.
Those contributions underline why Liverpool hesitated when City came calling. Gakpo can operate off the left, through the middle, or in deeper creative pockets. For a squad in transition, that kind of tactical elasticity is hard to price.
O’Rourke stressed that versatility as the decisive factor. Liverpool did listen to City’s offer and were “willing to pay top dollar for Cody Gakpo,” he noted, but ultimately chose to keep him. The internal verdict: his value on the pitch outweighs the nine-figure fee.
The stance also shines a light on head coach Andoni Iraola’s influence. According to O’Rourke, the Spaniard “did not want to lose the Dutchman,” fully aware that Gakpo’s adaptability and form could shape any success Liverpool manage this season.
A few weeks ago, Gakpo looked like the headline departure of the summer. Now he walks back into a dressing room where the message is very different: you’re not the expendable asset. You’re part of the plan.
