Cody Gakpo is being linked with a move away from Liverpool, and that could cause an issue for new head coach Andoni Iraola. Has ever a title-winning attack been so dismantled in such a short space of time? It's a question worth asking with uncertainty continuing to grow as Liverpool ponder their forward options under Iraola.
Title-Winning Attack Dismantled
Rewind just 14 months, and the landscape of the Reds squad looked significantly different, having sealed the Premier League crown in emphatic fashion. Leading the way was top scorer Mohamed Salah, ably assisted by regular starters Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz with chief support from Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez. Federico Chiesa, that season's only new signing, was restricted to a bit part. But there is now a very real chance none of those players will be at Liverpool for the start of the Iraola era. After the tragic death of Jota, both Diaz and Nunez were sold last summer, while Salah officially leaves next week on a free transfer after nine years at the club.
Gakpo's Struggles and Interest
Gakpo would be the first to admit he fell well short last season of the standards he'd set during his previous two-and-a-half years at Liverpool. The Dutchman, though, wasn't the only one, as was evidenced throughout a hugely underwhelming campaign. However, it was Gakpo who ultimately bore the brunt of the criticism from supporters, the target of a sustained level of abuse from certain sections online that eventually made its way to the Anfield stands. It didn't help that Gakpo was often in competition on the left flank with Rio Ngumoha, the 17-year-old on whom many fans ended up pinning their hopes, while he was compelled to start six of the final nine Premier League games as a centre forward given injuries to Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike.
The early stages of the World Cup have proven his best position remains on the left, with two goals and an assist in Holland's 5-1 group win over Isak's Sweden. It came after a brace in the final warm-up game against Uzbekistan. In truth, there were some signs of an upturn in form in the latter stages of the season at Liverpool with assists against Fulham and Everton and a strike at Manchester United. Gakpo has been attracting interest from a number of clubs, with Tottenham Hotspur the most prominent, although there have been contrasting reports out of Holland over whether the player wants to leave. Should he choose to, few could blame the 27-year-old after his treatment from parts of the fanbase last season.
Iraola's Squad Assessment
For their part, Liverpool have yet to make a decision on Gakpo's immediate place in the squad, with new boss Iraola continuing to assess his playing staff. Of course, the change to the forward line has already started with the capture last week of Spain international Victor Munoz, with Liverpool having triggered his £34.5million release clause at Osasuna. But the Reds must be careful. With Yan Diomande their chief target to further bolster their attacking options, signing the 19-year-old — while an undoubted coup — would further expose an immediate issue with which Iraola must grapple.
Risk of Squad Imbalance
Liverpool would have two forwards who hadn't played in England, each with just one full season at a top European league under their belt, a teenager with just five top-flight starts, a more experienced striker who has rarely been fit during the past 12 months, and another unlikely to play this year. Given two of their four senior centre-back options — Giovanni Leoni and new £60m man Jeremy Jacquet — have yet to kick a ball in the Premier League, the Reds can ill afford another campaign where much of the first half is spent waiting for too many newcomers to adapt. Fresh faces provide fresh energy and a fresh outlook, which the Anfield hierarchy feels is needed this summer. Not, though, to the extent it imbalances the squad.
Gakpo may not have been the most popular Liverpool player last season, and certainly not the most effective. But the signs are he will have an important role to play heading into the Iraola era — should he still be with the Reds come September 2.
