Tottenham's Serious Interest in Cody Gakpo Puts Pressure on Liverpool
Tottenham are circling Cody Gakpo, and this time the interest feels serious. Numbers are already being whispered: up to £70 million for a player Liverpool signed for less than £45m. On paper, that is the kind of profit that makes any modern club pause. On the pitch, the equation is far more complicated.
Gakpo has become a familiar figure in the Premier League, a versatile forward who can drift in from the flank or spearhead the attack. At PSV, he stacked up goals and looked every inch a star on the rise. Liverpool bought that version. Anfield has only seen it in flashes.
Too often, the Dutchman has drifted through games, his talent obvious but his impact faint. That inconsistency has opened the door to a debate that would have sounded absurd when he first arrived on Merseyside: is he worth more to Liverpool as a sale than as a starter?
Owen’s blunt verdict
Michael Owen, never shy of a sharp assessment, has put a harsh spotlight on Gakpo’s Liverpool form. Speaking to GOAL, the former Reds striker did not dance around the issue.
“He was consistent last year, but consistently poor,” Owen said. “He had a good opening 10 games or something, but then for the rest of the season, he was pretty poor.”
It was not just a swipe at one player. Owen framed it in the context of a wider drop-off.
“Gakpo has already proven that he can be very effective in the Liverpool team. But it was a concern, his performances last season, although it was a concern a lot of their performances. It was a poor season.”
That is the tension at the heart of Liverpool’s decision. They have already seen Gakpo at his best. They know he can hurt teams. They also know last season did not come close to his ceiling.
Owen can see why a sale might be tempting, but he also sees the risk.
“I just think Liverpool are probably... If they lose him, they're already desperate for wide men. If they lose him, are you going into the season relying on Rio Ngumoha? If you've got a replacement, then I can see it.”
He left the whole situation hanging.
“It could happen. At the moment, I think they're looking at adding, I'm not sure they're thinking of getting rid of too many players. His season last year was not very good. However, he has proven over time that he is very good. That's an up in the air one.”
Spurs push, Liverpool hesitate
Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, want more firepower and more flexibility across the front line. Gakpo ticks those boxes. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has stated that Spurs are “in direct talks with Cody Gakpo’s camp over possible move this summer”, with any deal hinging on the “financial package” and Liverpool’s ability to land replacements.
That last part is crucial. Liverpool cannot afford to weaken an already thin wide department without a clear upgrade or at least a guaranteed contributor coming in. They have been heavily linked with France international Bradley Barcola, who looks increasingly likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain. At 23 and already a Champions League winner, he fits the profile of a long-term attacking pillar.
If Barcola, or a player of similar calibre, walks through the door, Liverpool’s stance on Gakpo could shift quickly. Until then, every enquiry from north London tests their resolve.
A player caught between two versions of himself
Gakpo’s case is complicated by the contrast between his club and international form. For the Netherlands, he often looks liberated, sharp, and decisive. At the 2026 World Cup, he again produced lively displays in Oranje colours, reminding everyone why Liverpool fought so hard to sign him.
Asked about why he seems more consistent for the national team than at Anfield, the Eindhoven-born forward offered a simple explanation.
“It’s a little bit different. How I play here, where the coach wants me to be, the freedom that I have at the club. That’s it basically.”
Different role. Different instructions. Different Gakpo.
That admission cuts to the heart of the issue. Is this a player being miscast at Liverpool, or one who has not adapted quickly enough to the demands of the Premier League and his club’s system? Spurs clearly believe they can unlock more of the Dutchman they see on international duty.
A profit on paper, a dilemma on grass
Financially, Liverpool stand to gain. Turning a sub-£45m signing into a potential £70m sale is the kind of business that funds a rebuild, especially with a new era taking shape and a squad that still needs surgery in several areas.
But this is not a simple trade. Lose Gakpo without landing a ready-made wide forward and Liverpool walk into the new season with a thinner front line and more pressure on untested names such as Rio Ngumoha. Keep him, and they are betting on a player who has already shown both his best and his worst in a red shirt.
Tottenham are ready to force a decision. Gakpo himself will have a major say, weighing up which environment best serves his club ambitions and his place with the Netherlands.
If Liverpool cash in, they might reshape their attack in one bold move. If they hold firm, they are backing their coaches to turn inconsistency into influence.
One way or another, this will not be a quiet summer for Cody Gakpo.
