Tottenham Targets Cody Gakpo for Forward Reinforcement

Roberto De Zerbi has wasted no time reshaping Tottenham in his own image. The defence has already been torn up and rebuilt with three fresh signings, but the Italian’s gaze has now moved higher up the pitch. He wants a side that can dominate the ball and punish teams. And he wants a marquee name to help do it.

Spurs have already tested the market with intent. A £75million offer for Sandro Tonali has been knocked back by Newcastle United, a clear signal that De Zerbi is not shopping in the bargain aisle. West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes is also on the radar as Tottenham probe central midfield options that can fit their manager’s demanding, possession-heavy style.

But the real intrigue lies further forward.

Gakpo enters the frame

Tottenham are in talks with Manchester City over Savinho, exploring a deal that would add pace and unpredictability out wide. Now another name has been thrown into the mix, one with a very different profile but equally high ceiling: Cody Gakpo.

At 27, Gakpo is entering his prime years, and his numbers at Liverpool last season underline why top clubs are circling. He missed only two Premier League matches through injury and started 32 of his 36 appearances under Arne Slot. Seven goals, five assists, and a goal involvement roughly every three games tell the story of a player who might not grab every headline, but quietly delivers.

That reliability appeals to a coach like De Zerbi. So does Gakpo’s versatility. He can play across the front line, drop between the lines, and link midfield to attack – exactly the kind of multi-functional forward that can make De Zerbi’s system hum.

World Cup form, uncertain future

On the international stage, Gakpo’s stock is climbing again. Named in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico, he has started the tournament with authority. In the 5-1 dismantling of Sweden in the second group game, he scored twice and supplied an assist, a performance that sharpened the focus on his situation at Anfield.

That situation is delicate. His future is, for now, unresolved. Reports suggest Liverpool are open to listening to offers this summer, but they are in no rush to push him out of the door. They signed him in January 2023 for a fee between £35million and £45million and, if they do decide to sell, they will expect to recoup that and more.

They are in a strong position to demand it. Gakpo only extended his contract last summer, on terms understood to be worth around £250,000 a week. Four years remain on that deal. Liverpool, financially and contractually, hold all the cards.

Every sharp touch and decisive finish at the World Cup only strengthens their hand.

Spurs interest is real – but timing is everything

For Tottenham, that creates both opportunity and obstacle. The interest is genuine. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has confirmed Spurs are among the clubs exploring ways to strike a deal for Gakpo this summer. They are asking the right questions, testing the waters, trying to understand if Liverpool will eventually soften.

Right now, though, there is no green light from Anfield. Liverpool are still happy with Gakpo. They see his value, both on the pitch and in the market. Any decision will be calculated, not rushed.

Romano has made it clear this will not be a quick saga. With the World Cup in full swing, Liverpool are unlikely to make a definitive call in the coming days. Gakpo is not about to walk through the doors at Hotspur Way “today or tomorrow”.

So the story pauses, but only for now. Tottenham want a statement forward for De Zerbi. Liverpool have a forward whose value is rising on the biggest stage. Something has to give – the only question is whether it happens in this window, or the next.