Tottenham Set For New Bid For Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, As Manchester City Enter The Race

Cody Gakpo has been at the centre of transfer speculation all summer, but despite all the noise surrounding him, he has seemingly acted like the utmost professional and featured in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United in the opening game of the season for the Reds. 

Not only did Gakpo start for Liverpool and Andoni Iraola's side, but he put in a very solid individual performance for LFC, in a team that was poor for large parts of the game, and he capped this off with a arrow of a strike into the bottom corner to score one of Liverpool's two goals in the game. 

But despite the positive performance from Cody Gakpo yesterday, the reports that have emerged today retain the indication that he is heading closer and closer to an Anfield exit before the transfer deadline in just 8 days time. 

Tottenham Hotspur have been the long standing front runners for Cody Gakpo's signature this summer, as they have undertaken a significant rebuild in this transfer window, under new head coach Roberto De Zerbi. Gakpo was identified very quickly as a top candidate for the Italian manager who has reportedly already spoken to Gakpo and discussed how he sees the Dutchman fitting into his side. 

The North London based outfit then submitted a bid to Liverpool for Gakpo in the region of £60 million, which was swiftly turned down by LFC, with the Reds stance of Gakpo being clear that they don't wish to sell the forward this summer, as they look to add numbers in the department.

What has followed since has been a period of radio silence regarding Spurs and their desire to sign Gakpo, and instead Tottenham have been making other move of their own, as they have agreed deals for Manchester City duo Savinho and Omar Marmoush. 

And after having already spent a total of nearly £230 million this summer, people were beginning to question whether or not Tottenham were going to come back in for Gakpo after their initial rejected bid, but if reports are to be believed, they are set for another bid for Gakpo in the coming days.

An initially surprising development to the Cody Gakpo transfer saga this summer, is the reports that Premier League runners up, Manchester City are also interested in a move for Gakpo this summer. 

City, like Spurs, are also under new management this summer after Pep Guardiola ended his highly successful decade in Manchester at the end of last season. Enzo Maresca is the man that has been tasked with taking over at the Etihad, and he has had a summer of big exits to his squad. 

Losing the likes of Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Rodri to name a few. But now it would appear City are ready to start spending the money they have brought in, and with the aforementioned departures of Savinho and Marmoush, they need to bring in some attacking reinforcements before the window closes, and Cody Gakpo is a name reportedly on their shortlist.

According to Mounir Boualin, Spurs are currently preparing another bid for Cody Gakpo, while fellow Premier League side Manchester City have also expressed an interest in the forward and have made this clear to Gakpo and his representatives.

This has been followed up by Gianluca Di Marzio, who has said that Manchester City are making an attempt to sign Cody Gakpo from Liverpool, with City trying to anticipate other clubs in the race.

And most recently, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Manchester City have made contact with Cody Gakpo's camp today, and talks have begun. 

So, despite Cody Gakpo having a very solid pre-season and opening game of the league season, his departure from LFC seems to still be likely this summer.

But, whether Liverpool sanction a sale will likely depend on whether or not the club brings in their own attacking additions this summer, with Yankuba Minteh, Ibrahim Mbaye and top priority signing Bradley Barcola all among the names Liverpool have been linked with, as this summer transfer window charges towards its conclusion.