Tottenham Hotspur Prepare New Bid to Sign Liverpool Forward Cody Gakpo
London, 24 August 2026
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing an improved bid for Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, with Manchester City also entering the race as the summer transfer deadline rapidly approaches.
A Flurry of Activity in North London
Tottenham Hotspur are intensifying their efforts to secure Liverpool’s Dutch winger Cody Gakpo, with negotiations advancing rapidly as the summer transfer deadline looms [1][2]. The North London club has already reached an agreement in principle with the 27-year-old forward for a long-term contract running until 2031 [1][2]. While personal terms are not expected to pose an obstacle, Tottenham are actively working to finalise a club-to-club agreement with Liverpool [3][4]. This pursuit follows an earlier, unsuccessful offer from Spurs estimated at €60 million [2].
Strategic Rebuilding and Financial Outlays
This ambitious move for Gakpo is part of a broader, high-spending rebuild under manager Roberto De Zerbi, following a season where the club narrowly escaped relegation [3]. Tottenham have already integrated free signings Andy Robertson, Martin Dubravka, and Marcos Senesi [1][3]. Furthermore, they have committed £237 million to secure Jan Paul van Hecke, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes [1]. With an additional £140 million double deal close to completion for Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush and Savinho—the latter scheduled for medical testing on 23 August 2026 [1][3]—Spurs’ total primary transfer outlay across these deals could reach 377 million, excluding the potential Gakpo fee.
Manchester City’s Late Intervention and Liverpool’s Stance
The transfer dynamic grew significantly more complex on 23 August 2026, when Manchester City made direct contact with Gakpo’s representatives to signal their own interest [2]. This late intervention sets up a potential battle between the two clubs ahead of the transfer deadline at 23:00 on Tuesday, 25 August 2026 [2]. Liverpool, however, remain reluctant sellers. The Merseyside club’s official stance is that they are not actively looking to part with Gakpo, who recently demonstrated his value by scoring a spectacular 20-yard goal in a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on the weekend of 22–23 August 2026 [1][2]. Liverpool management will only consider a departure if a highly lucrative offer is made and an elite replacement is secured [2].
The Transfer Domino Effect and Contingency Plans
Any potential departure for Gakpo is heavily contingent on Liverpool’s ability to recruit Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola [4]. According to reports on 22 August 2026, Liverpool’s pursuit of Barcola remains stalled due to a substantial valuation gap with the French champions [4]. An alternative target, Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh, carries a steep valuation exceeding £70 million, leaving Liverpool’s hierarchy undecided on sanctioning Gakpo’s exit [4]. Should Tottenham’s pursuit of the Dutch international ultimately fail due to these complications, the club has established Chelsea’s Mykhaylo Mudryk as their primary ‘Plan B’ [1].