Cody Gakpo has been linked with a surprise move to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur this summer. The 27-year-old made 52 appearances last season as Liverpool's first-choice left winger but suffered his worst campaign in front of goal, failing to reach double figures in all competitions for the first time in a full season at the club.
Gakpo, along with Mohamed Salah on the opposite wing, was criticised heavily by pundits and supporters. His struggles were highlighted by promising displays from Rio Ngumoha, with calls for the 17-year-old to get more minutes growing throughout the season.
Spurs interest and Liverpool's stance
Tottenham have Gakpo on their shortlist as they look to strengthen their attack, along with Manchester City's Savinho. Liverpool are not actively looking to sell, but there is a sense in North London that a respectable offer could change their stance, especially as they pursue attacking targets of their own, including PSG's Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye.
Despite his struggles, Gakpo remains the highest-scoring Liverpool player available to new head coach Andoni Iraola, with 50 goals and 23 assists in 180 appearances. Only Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai and Hugo Ekitike scored more than him last season, and only one of those is available to Iraola in the foreseeable future.
Thin squad and risky gamble
Liverpool are incredibly thin in several areas, and a replacement for Salah is essential. Barcola, like Gakpo, prefers playing from the left, and while there are high hopes for Ngumoha and new signing Victor Munoz, neither has a proven record of delivering goals or assists. Nor do they look capable of playing as a central striker should Alexander Isak suffer injury again.
Parting with Gakpo would certainly be a major risk. At 27, he won't want to play a bit-part role and should prioritise starting games. Questions also remain about his fit for Iraola's style, but at his worst he is still a reliable squad player, and at his best he can start in a team chasing silverware, as 2024-25 proved.
To let him go this summer would leave Virgil van Dijk, a centre-back, as the Reds' highest-scoring current player. In a summer already facing myriad uncertainties, that would be a dangerous gamble.
