Liverpool Forward Cody Gakpo Expected To Join Tottenham Amid Manchester City Interest

With just 7 days left of this summer transfer window, players and clubs will be desperately scrabbling around, trying to secure deals that puts them in the best position possible to tackle the season ahead, and Liverpool are no exceptions to this. 

The Reds have been worryingly quiet since the clubs most recent summer signing, Ronald Araujo joined the club two weeks ago. And while this was a much needed addition to the LFC squad, given the defence worries that many had prior to Araujo's arrival, the signing hasn't solved Liverpool's primary issue area going into this season. 

The club have known for a number of months that they would need to go out and recruit a new winger this summer, following the premature departure of Mohamed Salah at the end of last season, but it was also clear throughout last campaign that the club would need to sign more than just one attacker, given the severe lack of final third threat the Reds possessed last season. 

However, what was not part of the clubs plans this summer was the possible sale of Cody Gakpo. Gakpo endured a difficult season at Anfield last campaign, but despite this he has proven himself to be a very steady operator in the Premier League, and this has meant that fellow Premier League clubs have been enquiring about him this summer.

Manchester City or Tottenham?

Both sides are beginning a new era, follwoing on from polar opposite periods prior to their new managers coming in. Spurs have endured back to back low league table finishes, with last season needing to secure safety from relegation into the Championship on the final day, to West Ham United expense. 

But they have been amongst the biggest spenders this window, with Roberto De Zerbi trying to avoid a third successive low league finish, and despite spending over £300 million already this summer, they are looking to add Gakpo to their squad before September 1st.

As for Manchester City, they are undertaking massive changes at the club at the moment, after Pep Guardiola ended his decade long spell at the club. They have also lost a number of key players and with the amount of money they have brought in this summer now reaching £238 million, they are looking to spend in the closing week of the window.

For Gakpo, both clubs offer massive opportunites for him. With Spurs, the chance to be part of the De Zerbi project and bring the club back amongst the elite will undoubtedly be one Gakpo finds exciting, and the idea of living in London is usually something entices a player. 

With Manchester City, they have been a dominant force in English football for years, and they would provide Gakpo with the chance to be part of the next generation of success at the club, under Enzo Maresca, but competition for place at City would likely be higher than at Spurs, and if its regular football that Gakpo wants, Tottenham may be the more logical move.

But it is clear that both Tottenham and Manchester City have expressed varying levels of interest in Gakpo this summer, but the latest on Gakpo's future seems to have the Dutchman favouring a move to London.

What Has Been Reported?

It has been reported today by Alex Crook that Cody Gakpo is understood to be making the move to North London this summer, rather than a switch to Manchester.

The report goes on to say that while Manchester City have expressed an interest in Gakpo, the chances of a move to the Etihad remain low. And given the fact it has been reported previously that Gakpo has spoken to Roberto De Zerbi about a move to Spurs, that conversation may have played a key role in his final decision.

Author's Verdict - LFC Must Replace Gakpo Should He Leave This Summer

If Liverpool are to sell Cody Gakpo this summer, a replacement must be lined up. The club already needed to sign at least one winger, if not two, therefore some may argue that should Gakpo depart Anfield this week, an additional third winger would need to be brought in.

And with Federico Chiesa also still being linked with a move away this summer, LFC are risking leaving themselves either a lot of work to do in the final week of the window, or leaving Andoni Iraola short on options in attack going into his first season in charge at Liverpool.